Hurricanes

Emergency Managers Plan For Hurricane Season

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― Weather is very much on the minds of emergency managers, especially as hurricane season begins.

Alex DeMetrick reports on the plans Baltimore has in place to move a city, if disaster moves in.

Even in nice weather, traffic moving out of Baltimore can jam up. 

But it isn't nice weather emergency planners worry about.  It's what the worst possible weather from hurricanes and tropical storms could do in the event large numbers of people have to be evacuated.

"It would be hectic, real hectic, because everyone would be trying to leave at the same time," said Baltimore resident Marcus Hamilton.

The city's emergency operation management team has been working on the concerns.  They are trying to make sure routes are controlled and information channels are open to make it happen smoothly.

"People realize it can happen to them, and I think if we do a scenario where we're going to advise people to leave and go to locations that would be safe, we think we're going to have to convince them to go," said Bob Maloney, the director of emergency operations.

After Katrina, planners are hoping complacency in the face of disaster has been blown away.  People should also be sure to do personal planning. Everyone should pack enough food, water and medicine to last at least three days, with battery operated radios to monitor instructions.

The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from now through November, is projected to produce six to nine hurricanes and at least a dozen tropical storms.

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