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Abstract
Hurricane Evacuation Travel Demand Forecasting System: A Web-Based Analysis ApplicationTrack: EMS, Fire, Disaster Management
Author(s): Michelle Palmer
Hurricane Floyd brought forth the largest evacuation in U.S. history affecting four states and more than three million people. The problems encountered during the evacuation gave concern over the safety of the population that was evacuating. PBS&J was contracted by FEMA, FDOT, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist in "fixing the problem." Several tasks were completed as part of the Southeast U.S. Hurricane Evacuation Study. A new concept was born from the study, named the Hurricane Evacuation Liaison Team (ELT). The ELT is to facilitate communications between states. An important function of the ELT is to let bordering states know how much traffic is anticipated to arrive in their state from another state. PBS&J designed a Web-based model that could show the traffic flows within and between states, as well as eventually have information on shelter locations, road closures, hotel/motel availability, etc., during an evacuation. A GIS-based system was created. As a result of this, PBS&J developed a Web-based GIS system that incorporated data from all hurricane evacuation studies available and produced a model that forecasts traffic during an evacuation. The key to the model is a table that shows state-to-state traffic flows and destinations by number of vehicles.
Michelle Palmer
PBS&J
1901 Commonwealth Lane
Tallahassee, FL 32303
USA
Phone: 850-575-1800
E-mail: mcpalmer@pbsj.com