Evacuation Suggestion

#1 Postby **wxman57** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:35 pm

As Isabel makes her way northwest toward the Outer Banks of NC, or even down the coast a bit maybe to Morehead City, some of you here will have to think about evacuation. I think I can help you out there. Here's what I see happening:

The first hurricane watch will be issued around 4pm Tuesday, maybe as late as 10pm Tuesday. It is my opinion that if you wait for the watch to be issued and you don't leave until Wednesday then you'll be spending most of Wednesday on the road trying to get inland in the biggest traffic jam you've ever seen. The stronger Isabel gets in the next 24-36 hours, the worse the traffic jam will be.

I expect the outer squalls of Isabel to reach the Outer Banks of NC as early as mid afternoon on Wednesday, with conditions deteriorating late afternoon through evening. You really don't want to be caught out on the highways by late afternoon Wednesday.

So if you really plan to evacuate, you need to make your decision tonight and leave tomorrow morning, maybe noon at the latest. Make your evacuation a 2-3 hour pleasant drive rather than a 12-18 hour nightmare.

Of course, this will mean leaving before you're 100% sure the center will hit you, but if you're on an Island along the NC coast, you're quite likely to get hit hard no matter where you are, as you'll either be hit by the center or the right front quadrant of Isabel.

Think about what I've said. Get out Tuesday, avoid the parking lot on Wednesday. Don't be trapped on a low-lying highway Wednesday evening where you could possbly drown.

#2 Postby **janswizard** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:52 pm

Just a quick comment and I'm not trying to argue with you so please so don't take it that way. Here in St Lucie County, Florida, we are told we should not evacuate until the Emergency Operations Center tells us to. Supposedly, they have a neat, orderly way that they want people to evacuate - supposedly to keep traffic flowing easily since there is only 1 main road out of here (I-95) since US1 is too close to the coast.

#3 Postby **Steve Cosby** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:14 pm

Bumped (because this deserves to be read by all)

#4 Postby **Air Force Met** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:19 pm

I agree Wxman. If you are going to leave or think you need to...do it tomorrow. This storm is being hyped as the worst in the last 100 years...and not saying that is bad. Better safe than sorry. That is going to get a lot of people on the roads. If you live near the Chez bay...get out of there.

#5 Postby **wxman57** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:22 pm

janswizard wrote:Just a quick comment and I'm not trying to argue with you so please so don't take it that way. Here in St Lucie County, Florida, we are told we should not evacuate until the Emergency Operations Center tells us to. Supposedly, they have a neat, orderly way that they want people to evacuate - supposedly to keep traffic flowing easily since there is only 1 main road out of here (I-95) since US1 is too close to the coast.

I've never seen a neat and orderly evacuation. Does it work? Personally, I'd get out ahead of everyone else. Somehow I don't think the east coast evacuation will be neat and orderly, with all those major population centers threatened. My concern was that no evacuation notice would be given until it is nearly too late to get out safely.

I see on the news now that they're already starting to evacuate the islanders. Good move.

GalvestonDuck · #6 Postby **GalvestonDuck** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:24 pm

And by all means, drive sensibly. Don't speed, don't drive on shoulders and medians to get ahead of traffic, don't drive through anything that could cause you to risk getting a flat tire. And check your spare!

You'll get away faster if you get away safely.

Guest · #7 Postby **Guest** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:26 pm

I agree with the Mets here................I for one may be on my way to DE to help my family get out.....................I always say better safe then sorry....................BTW if you do start now the better chance you have of remembering to grab all the important stuff.....................Such as your insurance policies, and other important documents that could be forgotten with a hasty evacuation........................And like a few others pointed out you may be able to beat the traffic back ups..............................

#8 Postby **Deenac813** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:27 pm

I agree also.. The traffic nightmare would be terrible! The earlier you can leave the better

#9 Postby **Pebbles** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:29 pm

All the above suggestions are great...One thing I can't imagine after living in NC is them saying don't leave early! By all means if I was still living there and planning to leave and work would let me I would leave early..Have you ever tried to find a hotel once evacuation orders are given!?! *rolls her eyes to the sky in the good grief way* Actually I wouldn't be surprised if hotels are already filled up by tomarrow pretty far inland...

Scott_inVA · #10 Postby **Scott_inVA** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:30 pm

Air Force Met wrote:I agree Wxman. If you are going to leave or think you need to...do it tomorrow. This storm is being hyped as the worst in the last 100 years...and not saying that is bad. Better safe than sorry. That is going to get a lot of people on the roads. If you live near the Chez bay...get out of there.

A pinch of potentially good news in this regard.

Lexington, VA is at the (southern) intersection of I-81 and I-64.
I-64 is NOR/Va Beach-RIC to points west. Out of curiousity, our newsroom called several hotels and motels in the area along the Interstates. MOST ARE COMPLETELY BOOKED. Very few have arrived yet but they will. The good news is people are getting the message in eastern VA and bugging out. The bad news is one waits until Wednesday, one will find nothing anywhere in the region.

Knowing the Interstates and traffic patterns, I too URGE those who will evac to do so on Tuesday. Richmond to the I-81 corridor is one Interstate (64) and one 2 lane (250). Unless you like cows, horses and don't get car sick, that's all there is. And, if you know Virginia, you know what Afton Mountain pass is like at night in driving rain.

You do NOT want to be stuck in a car out nowhere in a traffic jam when this thing comes in.

Scott

GalvestonDuck · #11 Postby **GalvestonDuck** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:32 pm

Has ChaserUK checked in lately? I still can't believe he's going to this.

Anonymous · #12 Postby **Anonymous** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:38 pm

I can not emphasize it enough:

Please if you live on the Outer Banks or in Va Beach or along the Chesapeake Bay and you are planning to leave, DO IT TOMORROW!!!

Because when peeps realize what the heck is coming, they will all hit the road at once.
In all my worst nightmares, I can not imagine a worse scenario than being trapped in a traffic jam in a low-lying area, unable to get out as rainband after rainband works in and that terrible storm surge starts to cover the highway and knowing that there is no way out............

Please get out of high-risk areas as soon as possible. Please don't wait too long......Leave tomorrow. It is better to leave town, the storm never arrives, and to be a laughed-at living fool, than to wait too long and end up a drowned DEAD fool.

-Jeb

Evacuation Suggestion

Evacuation Suggestion

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