EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PARTNERSHIP LOUISIANA CONTRAFLOW OPERATIONS BRIEFING

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PARTNERSHIP LOUISIANA CONTRAFLOW OPERATIONS BRIEFING

NEW CONTRAFLOW PLAN

SITUATION 2 million people at risk in Southeast Louisiana 1.2 million in New Orleans Metro area alone Very limited number of evacuation routes from population sources More vulnerable areas need to evacuate first Hurricane Ivan evacuation in 2004 proved that evacuations need to be managed: Gentlemen start your engines! is not a viable solution

PHASED EVACUATION (hours prior to onset of Tropical Storm Winds) PHASE I - (50 hours) Area south of Intracoastal Waterway, outside of levee protection system, vulnerable to Cat 1 or 2, no route restrictions

PHASED EVACUATION (hours prior to onset of Tropical Storm Winds) PHASE II - (40 hours) Area south of the Mississippi River, levee protected, vulnerable to Cat 2 or higher, suggested routes but no restrictions

OVERVIEW OF PHASE III CONTRAFLOW Source: Louisiana State Police

I-10 CONTRAFLOW Load Contraflow side (I-10 East) at 3 locations in Metairie and Kenner Normal flow side (I-10 West) will be directed to I-55 North Contraflow side will be crossed back to I-10 West side in LaPlace towards Baton Rouge

I-59 CONTRAFLOW 3 lanes of I-10 East from New Orleans will continue east onto 5 mile bridge to Slidell Bridge will be heavily patrolled for crashes and breakdowns 2 lanes of I-10 East will be crossed to Contraflow side (I-59 South) through a crossover at I-10/12/59 Interchange Right lane of I-10 East will continue on to I-59 North, I-10 West will be diverted to I-59 North

CAUSEWAY DIVERSION Causeway Bridge traffic will pass through Mandeville s 2 controlled traffic lights and continue north onto US 190 West (north) At I-12, Causeway traffic will be diverted to I-12 West via a two lane ramp This traffic will continue west to Hammond (I-55 Contraflow) and then north on I-55 I-12 West will be closed at Covington and directed to US 190 West (north)

I-55 CONTRAFLOW I-55 North will be crossed to Contraflow side (I-55 South) through a crossover at I-12 I-12 West will be directed to I-55 North I-55 Contraflow will continue into Mississippi

KEY CONTRAFLOW POINTS Congestion during an evacuation is inevitable Contraflow does not solve congestion, but makes better use of existing infrastructure The public needs to be educated and informed on plans and given realistic expectations The H-30 mark initiates Phase III where Contraflow can be implemented

KEY CONTRAFLOW POINTS CONT. The decision to begin Contraflow resides solely with the Governor, with input from LSP Superintendent LA DOTD Secretary Local government officials The decision to continue Contraflow into Mississippi is jointly made by the Governors of both states MHP will manage traffic along routes in Mississippi as it deems appropriate

CONTRAFLOW SUCESSES Hurricane Katrina 380 miles SE of the Mississippi River Contraflow for 25 hours 1.2 million evacuated Longest delay was 2-3 hours Hurricane Gustav 300 SE of Cocodrie, LA Contraflow for 14 ½ hours no significant delays First dim light execution of the plan First execution of SE and SW plans simultaneously 1.2 million evacuated from SE Louisiana 700,000 evacuated from SW Louisiana

LOUISIANA/MISSISSIPPI CONTRAFLOW HURRICANE EVACUATION Louisiana and Mississippi recognize the threat to the citizens of coastal areas and the need to develop plans to ensure safe and efficient evacuation Contraflow cannot be fully implemented solely within the borders of Louisiana to be effective Mississippi agrees to support Contraflow, if needed and consistent with public safety in Mississippi, not further than: I-59, m.p. 55 (Hattiesburg) I-55, m.p. 31 (Brookhaven)

LOUISIANA/MISSISSIPPI CONTRAFLOW HURRICANE EVACUATION Governor of Louisiana will notify Governor of Mississippi of the need for Contraflow 1 hour in advance of any notifications made by LA DOTD to MDOT Governor of Mississippi consults with MDOT, MEMA, MHP leadership Request for Contraflow assistance will be followed by official execution of an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request

Slow-moving Cat 1 HURRICANE ISSAC Tuesday, August 28: 30 WSW of Venice, NW @ 13 MPH Wednesday, August 29: Landfall @ Lower Terrebonne/Lafourche, NW @ 6 MPH Thursday, August 30: Downgraded to a Tropical Storm Remained Tropical Storm into Southern Arkansas Remained Remnant Low into Illinois and Indiana Rainfall and storm surge posed significant risks for citizens in Louisiana and Mississippi Tangipahoa River Pearl River

HURRICANE ISSAC

HURRICANE ISSAC Shift by Louisiana from activating plans based solely on the Safir-Simpson scale: e.g., Contraflow for only Cat 3 or above All-Hazards approach based upon forecasting by National Weather Service Forecast modeling Track guidance Intensity guidance Rainfall forecast Marine forecast Storm surge estimates Wind estimates

SUMMARY Although the task at hand appears formidable, it is unacceptable to lose one life due to not implementing the best evacuation plan available The plan may be an inconvenience to those not directly threatened, but an evacuation emergency in one area will surely constitute an emergency in another Therefore the State Police Mission shall continue to be: to protect life through developing and implementing the best plan possible

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS

Major Carl Saizan Region 1 Command Inspector office: 504.310.7048 carl.saizan@la.gov Captain Paul Clark Troop L Commander office: 985.893.6250 paul.clark@la.gov Captain Donovan Archote Troop B Commander office: 504.471.2782 donovan.archote@la.gov Captain Mark Richards Crisis Response Commander office: 225.922.0680 mark.richards@la.gov