Email to a Friend | Print Page
Hot Topic New Evacuation Guidelines for Chatham County
The longer a person has lived in a coastal area, the less likely it is that they will evacuate. A hurricane's path is difficult to predict and because hurricanes normally provide advance warning time compared to most disasters we experience, officials must make decisions in sometimes sunny weather conditions. If evacuation orders are given too early, the hurricane can change course and leave the evacuated area unscathed.
This year CEMA has developed new evacuation guidelines. New storm surge data and the plan to turn Interstate 16 contraflow (all lanes westbound) are some of the reasons the guidelines were reworked.
For a Category Three storm heading towards Chatham County a mandatory evacuation of the entire county would begin 30 hours from the forecast arrival of tropical storm force winds. Nursing homes and special needs resident evacuations will begin 48 hours out; voluntary evacuations of islands and low-lying areas will begin six to 12 hours prior to the mandatory evacuation.
CEMA encourages Chatham County residents to leave early if an evacuation is issued. Individual prior planning can be extremely beneficial. Residents need to make sure they bring vital documents with them, including birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, credit card information and passports. They must also remember to bring medications. If residents have pets, they must bring provisions for them as well, including food, water and any medications the pet needs.
Technology makes it easier for people to bring photos and important documents. Pictures can be scanned and put directly on a thumb drive or laptop. Residents should also bring an emergency supply kit when they evacuate: food, water, a first aid kit, flashlights, extra batteries, pet food and pet supplies and other essentials.
Click on image for full size table.
