How to Determine Evacuation Clearance Times

Evacuation times will vary greatly depending on several factors, including the number of people who must be evacuated, the availability of roadways to leave the area, the number of shelters nearby and the nature of the emergency itself. Although several emergencies may warrant an evacuation, from a fire in the building to an approaching hurricane, several factors must be looked at when determining evacuation clearance times in any emergency.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine the number of people that would participate in the evacuation process. According to Florida State University, looking at population data is an important factor when considering the amount of time it would take to evacuate a certain sector of the population. This holds true no matter what the emergency, whether it's the need to evacuate 20 people from an apartment complex in the case of a fire, or thousands of people if a hurricane is imminent.

• 2

  Examine traffic control and exit routes. In the event of a large-scale evacuation, knowing which routes are available for use and the expected number of people who would use those routes may mean the difference between gridlock and a smooth evacuation clearance time.

• 3

  Examine shelter opportunities. If a widespread evacuation for an emergency such as a hurricane or a gas leak is needed, knowing which types of buildings may serve as shelters may affect evacuation clearance time, according to Florida State University.

• 4

  Take into consideration abnormal situations. According to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, a town's average population may not include visitors during high-travel times of the year. Some town's populations may double during certain months, such as coastal communities during the summer.

• 5

  Examine behavioral characteristics. According to Florida State University, this is necessary to determine evacuation clearance times. For example, a certain sector of the population may be accustomed to evacuations, and therefore may be more likely to know evacuation routes. On the other hand, clearing populations who may be taken by surprise may be more complex, and therefore more time-consuming.

• 6

  Update evacuation clearance times. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ongoing maintenance of emergency evacuation plans should produce faster and more efficient results.