Does Miami have an evacuation plan...

[hesperhys]

and if so, where does one find it?

please don't tell me to go to miamidade.gov/oem -- that site is, well, useless...

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SPECIFICALLY what I'd like to know is...

IF an evacuation call is issued, which roads/routes are designated for evac ONLY? Any?

For example, will both sides of I-95 be northbound only? And if so, for how far north will the (southbound) lane-reversal extend?

Are there any E-W evac routes -- SR 27, for example..? How about I-595?

[edit for typo]

[ColinD]

Where would you go? I'd head to orlando via the turnpike myself.

[hesperhys]

Orlando is a possibility (but will the turnpike really get me to central Fla faster than 27 in an evac rat race? if southbound turnpike traffic has been reversed, perhaps... but if not... that is the gist of my question...).

I'd like to know if our "Leaders" have already considered these contingencies, and if so are their erudite considerations available NOW for public planning -- or do we have to wait for the Evac order, then scramble to find a TV to watch while Alex & Co strike poses and announce what to do on camera? That is my cynical guess...

[NFLnut]

Just remember that many from Tampa came to Orlando 2.5 weeks ago when the forecast was for a Tampa landfall. They actually got themselves more into the crosshairs by coming here when Charley came straight through Orlando. Nobody should jump the gun.

You don't want to wait too late because of the traffic issues and you may find no place to stay, but don't start too early because right now Orlando is closer to Ground Zero unless the track changes severely. Even central Georgia isn't out of the woods. I have a sister up there and am concerned about her because of the differences in all of the models as well.

[hesperhys]

I'd just like to know if there ARE any contingencies ALREADY set up for (e.g.) reversing flow on interstate arteries (e.g.) -- dependent, of course, on the direction of an approaching storm -- or do we (as I suspect) just have to wait for Alex et al. to figure it out 12 hours in advance of possible landfall...

[dhweather]

Just remember that many from Tampa came to Orlando 2.5 weeks ago when the forecast was for a Tampa landfall. They actually got themselves more into the crosshairs by coming here when Charley came straight through Orlando. Nobody should jump the gun.

You don't want to wait too late because of the traffic issues and you may find no place to stay, but don't start too early because right now Orlando is closer to Ground Zero unless the track changes severely. Even central Georgia isn't out of the woods. I have a sister up there and am concerned about her because of the differences in all of the models as well.

And here lies the major issue at hand. It is simply not possible to evacute
a large metropolitan area in "time". Two days is not enough time.

[DelrayKyle]

hesperhys, Broward and Dade county have a hard time getting people out of a Dolphin game, or NASCAR race. I wouldn't count on extra lanes or relaxation of Tolls to determine your pace of evacuation. In addition, since you're further south you have a tougher time deciding where to go since the storm is showing a current tendency towards turning North "sooner or later." If you're going to bail - treat it like it's going to be a traffic jam on a holliday weekend. And if you're going to retreat to the North, make sure you get a head start.

Myself, I'm thinking of retreating to the Keys for the weekend. It's looking safer then Palm Beach County.

K

[azsnowman]

Just remember that many from Tampa came to Orlando 2.5 weeks ago when the forecast was for a Tampa landfall. They actually got themselves more into the crosshairs by coming here when Charley came straight through Orlando. Nobody should jump the gun.

You don't want to wait too late because of the traffic issues and you may find no place to stay, but don't start too early because right now Orlando is closer to Ground Zero unless the track changes severely. Even central Georgia isn't out of the woods. I have a sister up there and am concerned about her because of the differences in all of the models as well.

And here lies the major issue at hand. It is simply not possible to evacute
a large metropolitan area in "time". Two days is not enough time.

Not to take the light off Frances here folks but....talking from experience, NO....not a hurricane evacuation but from a wildfire, prepare, prepare, prepare! Being in law enforcement, believe me, the quicker you can come up with your OWN evac plans, the better off you are! Trust me, during the Rodeo Chediski Complex Fire, there were OVER 27 other agencies involved with the mandatory evacuation, WHAT A FRIGGIN' NIGHTMARE THAT WAS We had one IC (incident commander) trying to coordinate some 300+ officers, 200+ National Guardsmen and countless volunteers trying to evacuate some 30,000+ residents and an untold number of campers in the high country. Bottom line, if there's even a SLIGHT chance of Frances making landfall, "BUG OUT ASAP!"

Dennis