Geri B

I'm in Illinois and never had to evacuate en masse. Watching the terrible traffic jams on the northbound interstate and empty southbound...my first uneducated idea.......why not redirect maybe 2 lanes of the southbound road into northbound..leaving one nearest the center for emergency vehicles. I know here in Illinois with road construction being our fourth season, major arterial and local highways are redirected constantly.......just wondering
also..there are trains that could carry many people - could offer lower ticket or free to citizens seeking safety,and trans continental buses that could perhaps be used too. Just thinking there should be more streamlined ways of moving masses of people in emergency situations...

Kitsie

I wondered that also, having seen it done before. (using lanes on opposite side of Fway.)

bearisgray

Or loading up school buses - - -

lots2do

I read that they are or were using busses on Key West to evacuate people. Some of the airlines were offering good fares to get out, too. I agree that it has to be tough to be stuck in a long, slow line of traffic just trying to get out.
This is the first real hurricane down there (in our area) since we bought our condo six years ago. One of my friends is riding out the storm in Georgia. Another is staying put which really makes me anxious.

Eva Knight

I've thought about all of this. Why don't they evac. people using the school and city busses. I guess it takes a female to think of things like that.

roguequilter

because the florida govenor has wanted to keep southbound lanes open for arrival of extra gas trucks he's requested from georgia etc and to be able to get them down to major population centers being evacuated. tanker trucks are also being given state patrol car escorts to help them thru. florida gov has also given permission for evacuees to drive (slowly) on the shoulders of the roads to help facilitate the evacuation. the plan is to open southbound lanes for evacuees as storm nears and most all that are leaving are on road and more lanes needed. some people are not evacuating because they're afraid of running out of gas and being stranded on the open, exposed highway when storm hits. what a mess. my heart, my prayers go out to all those millions of people threatened by this massive storm.
...also
coastal regions of georgia are under mandatory evacuation and the georgia gov has opened southbound lanes of 75 & 95 for northbound evacuees

Stitchnripper

Also to consider, many people have limited or no means. They have to depend on assistance to evacuate and then go to a shelter. And the mayor of Houston said if he told his city to evacuate, I-10 would be packed and then it would flood and people would die in that mess. And the busses have to get to the people and have a place to bring them and the busses need fuel too and the people would need bathroom breaks and food. It is such a mess. We made it through a bunch of hurricanes when we lived in South Louisiana and we moved to Metro Atlanta with the idea we wouldn't have to deal with that anymore. Surprise! It is heading this way.

dunster

People also want to take as many of their belongings and pets with them as possible, as well as get their cars out of the path of the hurricane.

roguequilter

we were living in NJ during huricane gloria ..we never expected to be in that much weather trouble north of cape hatteras. one of the mayors in the florida keyes is saying that they are using buses to help people w no means of personal transportation. bussing to shelters in ?miami?

i hope you will be safe ...prayers for all in Irmas path.

Stitchnripper

exactly, roguequilter - there just isn't enough space/resources/time to relocate that many people and their pets and things. And where are all the cars supposed to go? And who is going to pay for all the gas? I am not pointing fingers. Heaven only knows how hard all this is to prepare for. It is a big sad mess.