Georgia D.O.T. Hurricane Preparedness

and Response2010

Who PresentedThe following states presented on their states plan:

Texas Georgia

Louisiana South Carolina

Mississippi North Carolina

Alabama Virginia

Florida

All of these states have contra-flow plans and the majority of them have implemented them in recent years

Georgia’s Current Mandated Evacuation

Plan

GDOT

Law Enforcement

GSP

CEMA

Railroad & Utilities

FHWA

GEMA

(Joint Effort)

GETTING PREPAREDPost Re-Entry &

Strike Teams

Dublin Civitan Fairground Dublin Staging Area

Langston Chapel SchoolStatesboro Staging Area

Ocmulgee State ParkMcRae Staging Area

Tifton DOTTifton Staging Area

Altamaha Technical College Jesup Staging

Area

Waycross Middle School

Waycross Staging Area

Ogeechee Fairgrounds Statesboro Staging

Area

Staging Area’s

Three Staging Area’s (Waycross,Jesup,Dublin) Moving Equipment and Personnel to Staging Areas

48-72 Hours prior to anticipated landfall

Employees on residing within coastal area

Prepare for re-entry

WHAT HAPPENS NOW????

EVACUEES

Hurricane Evacuation Routes

I-16 One WayExtended to Dublin

(45 Miles)

I-16 One Way

to US 1(80 Miles)

I-16 One WaySavannah to Dublin

(125 Miles)

I- 16 Contra-Flow Lane Map

Contra-Flow Lane(I-16 was the only contra-flow plan prior to the 2004 Hurricane Season)

As a result of Hurricane Floyd traffic conditions and operational issues, I-16 contra-flow was extended by

45 miles for a total of 125 miles.

Begins in Savannah at Exit 162

Extends just west of Exit 51 (US 441) near Dublin

Only 3 exits remain open in the contra-flow side, while 21 are closed

I-16 Median Cross-overs Milepost 162 Savannah

I-16 Median Cross-overs Milepost 158.5 Savannah

Drop Gate Barricades

Resemble railroad crossing armsWill be used to restrict normal I-16 EB traffic in order to utilize I-16 EB lanes for WB-only traffic flow

I-16 Median Cross-oversDublin

Typical Locations of Drop Gates

Drop Gates have been placed at ramp locations starting at exit 162 (Chatham County) and will follow west to exit 39 (Laurens County).

INTERSTATE MEDIAN CROSS OVERS FOR CONTRA-FLOW

I-95 Contra-flow

Begins at MP 25 and ends at MP 59

All exits on the SB side are closed to prevent exiting from the contra-

flow

HERO Units Will be Available for Evacuation and Re-entry

During a hurricane evacuation, GDOT HEROs will patrol the I-16 corridor to assist motoristsMaintenance Forces will sweep interstate shoulders along I-16 corridor 72 hours prior to hurricane land fall to minimize road hazards.

HERO’S STAGING

HERO SUCCESS HUGE public relations boost. DOT personnel, local and state police, wrecker

and fire departments worked extremely well together. Everyone went the extra mile.

Relieved the District personnel of maintaining traffic on the interstate. This allowed District forces to be redirected.

Provided accurate and up to date traffic and weather conditions.

Provided information on problem road conditions (flooding, signs down, etc.).

HERO equipment and operations allowed incidents to be cleared faster and safer. Maintenance forces did not have to respond to many of the incidents on the interstates.

Assisted with evacuation and re-entry along interstates.

Georgia Public Radio GDOT in cooperation w/GEMA, GSP and the Georgia Public Broadcasting System will provide updates on road conditions and routes in the event of a hurricane

Georgia Department of Transportation

Transportation Management Center

TRAFFIC COUNT INFORMATION

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESSTRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL

Sidney Lanier Bridge in Brunswick, Ga.

Hurricane Jeanne 50 mph sustained winds closed the bridge

Add picture

2010HURRICANERESPONSE

Strike Teams

DOT will have 3 major staging areas along the coast

Primary Goal is to clear path to I-95 DOT will have 300 to 500 personnel

available for re-entry Over 1000 pieces of equipment will

be utilized during re-entry

CHATHAM COUNTY STRIKE TEAMS

• Purpose: To open the travel lanes for vehicular traffic immediately following a catastrophic event such as a hurricane along a pre-identified route.

• Objective: Use chainsaws and heavy equipment to cut and push debris off the roadway safely from vehicular traffic. Teams are to remain together at all times. Team recognizes and reports damages to roads, drainage structures, utilities, etc…

• Communication: • Options can include:, Hand held or truck mounted 800 MHz radio, Southern Linc, Cell phone service, Satellite

phones, Internet, Texting • Identify a communication chain within the organization so that the team communicates and reports to one

person.• Assign communication tasks to one member of the team. Radio chat and excessive unnecessary use can tie

up communication lines and discharge power supplies.• Make provisions to recharge power supply daily.

• Personnel: Team: • Equipment Operators• Laborers• Inspector

• Assign a hierarchy within the team and identify a “Team Leader”.• Resources:

• Chainsaw(s) Maps• Heavy Equipment Paper/pencils• Fuel cans Camera• Spare parts Tire repair kit• Basic tool kit Flashlight and spare batteries• Contact phone list First aid kit

• Personal Provisions: (Personal safety items such as goggles, chaps, hearing protection, vests, etc…)• Food• Water• Medications• Gloves• Insect repellent• Identification

• Support Needs:• Safety Coordinator• Utility Coordination• Fuel Supply• Vehicle Repair• Emergency Services (i.e. EMT, Police, etc…)

Damage and deaths from Hurricane FloydNorth Carolina: 51 deaths; 7000 homes destroyed

South Carolina: 1 death; over 1000 homes flooded

Maryland: 1 death; over 250,000 customers without electricity

Pennsylvania: 8 deaths; over 410,000 customers without electricity ,over 4000 homeless; 2000 homes and businesses damaged

New Jersey: 4 deaths; over 650,000 customers without electricity

New York: 2 deaths; over 80,000 customers without electricity

Delaware: 2 deaths; over 200,000 customers without electricity

Background

1999 - Hurricane Floyd impacted all southeastern coastal states

Approximately 5 million evacuees

Approximately 2 million from Florida

Athens

11.8”

Macon

12.7”

Record Rainfall

from Frances

54 Counties received

Presidential Declaration of

Disaster

Record Rainfall

from Ivan

Atlanta 13.6”

Columbus 9.5”

28 Counties received Presidential

Declaration of Disaster

GEORGIA SUSTAINS MINIMAL DAMAGE

GDOT DAMAGE & CLEAN UP ESTIMATES

ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND CITIZENSHURRICANCE FRANCES $5.6 MILLION

HURRICANE IVAN $12 MILLION

HURRICANCE JEANE $4.5 MILLION

HURRICANCE FRANCES $1.1 MILLION HURRICANE IVAN $1 MILLION HURRICANCE JEANE $500,000.00Emergency Contract Repairs $1.5 MILLION

Restoring Our infrastructure

State Route 57 Slip Failure

State Route 515 Cartecay River

SR 131 IVAN Wind Damage

Georgia’s Improvements Exit numbers Flip-down signs Highway advisory radio Crossovers Drop gates CCTV Public information component

Hurricane Preparedness and Response

2010

QUESTIONS