Creating the perfect plan for the community is a very complex endeavor. Throughout this primer, there are several themes including:

• Include transportation planners in the plan development and decision-making process, and on the EOT
• Ensure that the evacuation plans include the resources necessary to evacuate those with special needs
• Use the various transportation tools to collect planning factors (such as work zones); to collect real time information (TMCs and CCTVs) for dissemination to the public and along routes for evacuees (VMS, 511 system); to contract for labor and materials; to coordinate with other jurisdictions, government officials, and the media; and to ensure the effective and safe movement of evacuees.

A good plan should answer the following questions, for each phase of the evacuation. The answers to these questions should help in developing a robust plan to support very limited evacuations as well those evacuations in advance of a catastrophic event:

	Planning and Preparedness
	Have all agencies with evacuation responsibility been involved in the evacuation plan’s development?
	Has the ultimate decision maker been identified?
	Has the one key individual, the Incident Commander, been identified?
	Have those with authority and responsibility for evacuation been identified, and have their tasks been pre-defined?
	What additional training and resources does the community need to support an evacuation?
	Does the plan include provisions for notification of evacuation personnel?
	Does the plan require the routine updating of contact lists for evacuation personnel?
	How does the evacuation plan fit into the larger emergency management plan?
	Does the plan address COOP and COG?
	Does the plan address shelter-in-place provisions if full evacuation is not feasible?
	How is the community informed of what steps they should take to be prepared for an evacuation, whether a person is located in an evacuation zone, what evacuation routes they should use, and the locations of nearby shelters?
	Have plans been coordinated with potentially impacted neighboring communities or receiving organizations, including associations, volunteers, and the private sector?
	Have all available, or readily available, local resources been identified?
	How does the plan address training personnel?
	Has the plan been exercised and revised as needed?
	Does the plan identify organizations and individuals (by position) responsible for directing resources to execute evacuation orders?
	Does the plan identify roles and responsibilities of different levels of government, and how these government agencies coordinate their efforts with each other?
	Does the plan document mutual-aid agreements?
	Does the plan identify specific roles of the State and local transportation and law enforcement agencies in evacuation operations?
	Does the plan identify variation(s) in direction and control for different types of catastrophic events that require evacuation?
	Does the plan include demographic data to identify the location of senior citizen, low-income, transit-dependent, and other populations that may need transport?
	Does the plan contain provisions to identify the number of evacuees that will require transportation assistance?
	Does the plan contain a strategy for special needs populations?
	Does the plan address the catastrophic hazards that would cause a large-scale evacuation?
	Based on the catastrophic hazards, does the plan identify and prioritize the communities that should be evacuated?
	Based on the catastrophic hazards, does the plan identify the number of people and vehicles to be evacuated?
	Based on the catastrophic hazards, does the plan identify decision points/triggers for implementation of evacuation?
	Based on the catastrophic hazards, does the plan identify the estimated time needed to complete the evacuation, and is this coordinated with highway, law enforcement, and transit agencies?
	Based on the catastrophic hazards, does the plan identify the distance evacuees must travel to ensure their safety?
	Based on the catastrophic hazards, does the plan identify the estimated time public sheltered evacuees will need support?
	Does the plan require tasked organizations to identify, obtain, and maintain resources and equipment required to support all aspects of the evacuation (e.g., evacuating people that do not have their own means of transport, evacuating special needs populations, communicating information to the public, and managing traffic flow)?
	Does the plan include evacuee host communities in disaster declarations?
	Does the plan require organizations to prepare SOPs that contain the detailed instructions that responsible individuals must follow to accomplish assigned tasks?
	Does the plan contain provisions for determining evacuation routes?
	Does the plan contain provisions to manage timely communication of evacuation instructions to prepare people in advance of the order to evacuate?
	Does the plan identify contingency plans for use if normal means of public communications are unavailable?
	Does the plan provide for communicating with people that have limited English proficiency?
	Does the plan include provisions for communicating with special needs evacuees (e.g., people with hearing, vision, and physical impairments) and the means to communicate?
	Is there a designated spokesperson to provide information to the media and the public?
	Does the plan provide for keeping the public informed of the estimated travel times to safe haven under current conditions?
	Does the plan address the communication of alternative routes and/or transportation modes?
	Does the plan contain sample/pre-scripted messages for use?
	Does the plan include provisions for movement of required assist devices such as wheelchairs, life support systems, service animals, and communication equipment?
	Does the plan identify special needs populations in the community by geographic location (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted care facilities)?
	Does the plan contain provisions for coordination with the most appropriate community outreach agencies to transport special needs populations?
	Does the plan contain a policy with respect to bringing service animals and pets to shelters or on board transit vehicles, planes, helicopters, etc.?
	Does the plan include provision for sheltering those evacuees with pets?
	Does the plan make provisions for evacuating schools and day care centers?
	Does the plan make provisions for evacuating mobile home parks and campgrounds?
	Does the plan make provisions for evacuating incarcerated residents (e.g., those in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and drug treatment centers)?
	Does the plan make provisions for evacuating transient populations (e.g., tourists, seasonal workers, and homeless)?
	Does the plan include the use of public transit vehicles, school buses, and paratransit vehicles?
	Does the plan include the use of non-government agency vehicles (e.g., church buses and volunteer group vehicles) as a contingency?
	Does the plan identify accommodations for the transport of luggage, etc., and how evacuees are informed about any restrictions or limitations?
	Does the plan address provisions made to transport evacuees to pick-up points/staging areas?
	Does the plan require evacuation routes to be designated, marked, and communicated to the public?
	Does the plan address the safety of routes to be used for evacuation (e.g., roads, bridges, railways, waterways, and airstrips)?
	Does the plan indicate whether the agreements provide for sufficient space to house the worst-case estimate for the number of evacuees needing shelter?
	Does the plan address provisions for identifying and evacuating animals (e.g., animals in farms, kennels, veterinary hospitals, zoos, theme parks, pet stores, and university laboratories)?

	Readiness
	What may cause an evacuation within the jurisdiction?
	How are key officials alerted of the possible need to evacuate?
	Does the plan document the decision criteria to be monitored and evaluated before issuing an evacuation order?
	How large is the area to be evacuated and how many people are affected?
	Does the plan identify organizations and individuals (by position) responsible for providing data to support the evacuation decision?
	Does the plan identify when evacuation personnel are to be advised of a possible evacuation prior to its execution?
	Does the plan identify checklists of actions for evacuation personnel prior to issuance of an evacuation order?

	Activation
	Who issues an evacuation order?
	How and when is an evacuation order communicated to the public?
	Does the plan identify what agencies report to the EOC and how they are notified to report?
	Does the plan address activation of the TMC if it is not already operational?
	How long does it take to have field personnel and equipment in place to support the evacuation?
	Does the plan define specific criteria for issuing voluntary, recommended, or mandatory evacuation orders?
	Does the plan contain pre-approved drafts of executive orders for evacuations?
	Does the plan address amending or revising the evacuation orders?
	Does the plan describe time phasing of evacuation execution (i.e., sequential and concurrent activities) for different levels of evacuation response?
	Does the plan contain provisions to announce closings of schools and businesses in the risk area?
	Does the plan identify a system for notifying and coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions about what evacuation routes should be used and when?
	Does the plan include provisions for notification and coordination with host communities, non-governmental organizations, and other risk communities to address shelter activation and operations?

These questions are divided among General, Tier 1, and Tier 2 phases of the evacuation.

	General for Both Tiers
	Does the plan include monitoring evacuation/re-entry operations of motorized transport, rail, air, water, and other modes of transportation to determine the adequacy of available resources?
	Does the plan identify the provisions made to monitor traffic conditions on the evacuation/re-entry routes and make operational adjustments as appropriate to maximize throughput?

	Tier 1 Operations: Evacuating People from Harm’s Way
	Who manages an evacuation’s operations?
	What highway evacuation routes should be used?
	What tools should be used (e.g., communication tools and traffic control devices including ITS)?
	What methods of communication will likely be most effective within the existing constraints?
	What barriers to effective communication are likely to be encountered?
	Does transport need to be provided and if so, for how many people?
	How are transport resources obtained, managed, and coordinated?
	How is special needs transport provided?
	What information is available on potential users of special needs transport?
	Who needs to be informed to open a shelter(s)?
	How is the event that triggered the evacuation progressing, and is there any change to earlier predictions of effects?
	Does the plan identify specific contingency plans that can be used if conditions change during the course of an evacuation?
	Does the plan contain a strategy for securing and restricting access to evacuated areas?
	Does the plan address informing evacuees of available transportation modes, how to access them, and any restrictions on what evacuees may carry with them?
	Does the plan address informing evacuees about when transportation assistance should begin and end and the frequency of departure at designated pick-up locations?
	Does the plan establish times for public officials to provide updates, and does the plan address informing the public on when to expect such updates?
	Does the plan address informing evacuees of their destination before boarding public transport?
	Does the plan address informing the public and/or family members of evacuee destination?
	Does the plan address providing the public with information about available services along evacuation routes and at shelters?
	Does the plan identify established web sites, hotlines, etc. where people can get answers to their questions/concerns?
	Does the plan address communicating security measures to the public so they are not concerned about possessions left behind?
	Does the plan identify support services that are available for those with special needs?
	Does the plan indicate that highway conditions are reported on emergency radio announcements for travelers en route?
	Does the plan address contingency plans in place if normal means of communication are unavailable?
	Does the plan address contingency plans for obtaining additional evacuee transport vehicles, if needed?
	Does the plan provide coordination to prevent over-tasking of transportation resources where neighboring jurisdictions also require support from the same resource provider?
	Does the plan address coordination with the next higher level of government (local to State, and State to Federal) to ensure unmet transportation resource needs are identified and requested to support evacuations?
	Does the plan address the use of standby contracts with motor coach companies, paratransit providers, ambulance companies, railroads, air carriers, etc., to obtain operators and equipment to fill identified transportation shortfalls?
	Does the plan require critical operational changes to be communicated to the EOC and the public?
	Does the plan identify provisions to control access to evacuation routes and manage traffic flow?
	Does the plan address strategies and responsibilities for maintaining evacuation route capacity, especially with regard to work zones, toll collection, vehicle incidents, etc.?
	Does the plan address strategies and responsibilities for providing food, water, restrooms, fueling stations, and rest stations for evacuees along the evacuation routes, including those for special needs populations?
	Does the plan include resource lists to support evacuation routes (including all resource needs identified above)?
	Does the plan contain specific contraflow plans that have been developed, tested, and coordinated with all affected parties?
	Does the plan address strategies for emergency responders, transit vehicles, and other essential equipment to move inbound against the predominant outbound flow?
	Does the plan address communicating information with the public on the contraflow plans and the beginning and ending times for contraflow operations?
	Does the plan identify a system for communicating and coordinating contraflow operations with neighboring jurisdictions?
	Does the plan contain a system for keeping shelter information current during the evacuation?
	Does the plan contain a system for acquiring and communicating information to evacuees on the availability of non-public shelters such as hotels?
	Does the plan include provisions for keeping shelter operators informed on the location and status of alternate shelters?
	Does the plan require travel routes to the shelters and the shelters to be marked?
	Does the plan provide for trained personnel to support the evacuation route (food, first aid, information, etc.)?

	Tier 2 Operations: Evacuee Re-entry
	Who should make the decision to return?
	What factors should influence a re-entry decision?
	What is the damage to the areas where evacuees will return?
	Are businesses operating; can basic goods and food be obtained?
	Is there an outbreak of disease or any other health or medical issue that should be addressed prior to issuing an “all-clear?”
	Have any hazardous material spills been cleaned up?
	Are utilities functioning (e.g., water running to the homes/businesses, available electricity)?
	Are evacuation routes clear of debris and safe to travel upon?
	Are public transit systems operational?
	Are there any populations that should not be allowed to return due to health and medical or public safety concerns?
	Have injured or deceased persons and animals been attended to and recovered from the area?
	How should re-entry be communicated to the public?
	Should mutual-aid re-entry be done in phases?
	Does the plan include provisions for transporting evacuees who did not self-evacuate back to their place of residence?
	Does the plan identify personnel resources and equipment required to support re-entry?
	Does the plan include provisions for assisting evacuees who did not self-evacuate in reuniting with family members?

	Return to Readiness
	How should mutual-aid partners be reimbursed for their costs expended for the evacuation?
	Does the plan explain how expenditures are to be documented for reimbursement?
	What is the policy of the evacuation team members’ home organization regarding recovery time and time to participate in AAR and other return-to-readiness activities?
	Who is responsible for conducting an AAR and ensuring necessary changes are made to plans and SOPs and communicated to staff?
	What equipment and supplies need to be restocked?
	What new information needs to be communicated to the public to maintain their awareness to be prepared?
	Does the plan indicate that the contraflow plans have been tested in an exercise or drill, or in a real evacuation?
	Does the plan require periodic reviews and updates of the plan, exercises, and AARs as part of the planning process?
	Does the plan provide for updating mutual-aid agreements?