Creating Efficient Hurricane Evacuation Plans for Texas Gulf Coast

To move large volumes of vehicles, officials can designate highway shoulders as driving lanes and close some entrance and exit ramps. If a major evacuation is needed, officials may choose to implement contraflow operations, which allow evacuating motorists to use the opposing lanes for added capacity. This increases the number of evacuation lanes by rerouting northbound traffic onto southbound lanes. The evacuation plan provides the details to “flush” the highway of opposing traffic for contraflow operations and ensure no vehicles can enter the highway.

These major traffic pattern changes require a lot of manpower, communication, and coordination between TxDOT, law enforcement, and regional entities.

Evacuation plans include maps detailing traffic flow, digital sign placement and messaging, and traffic control equipment like barricades, cones, and barrels. Plans detail staffing, material, and equipment needs for road crews and courtesy patrols to assist motorists along the routes.

Because communication with the traveling public is critical, plans identify locations for digital signs and the messages to be displayed. The plans even drill down to details like where to remove lane line buttons and how many and what kinds of barriers to place at entrance and exit ramps.

When a major hurricane threatens, time is of the essence. TxDOT staff can pull this plan off the shelf and follow it step by step to mobilize resources, set up traffic control, and safely and efficiently evacuate coastal residents.

For information about hurricane preparedness and evacuation routes in your area, visit this TxDOT resource.