1. Several emergency situations may require evacuation of all or part of the county. Small‑scale, localized evacuations may be needed as a result of a hazardous materials incident, major fire, or other incident. Large‑scale evacuations may be needed in the event of a county‑wide disaster requiring the cooperation and combined resources of the county and the municipalities.
    
2. A hazard analysis has been completed which attempts to identify the types of threats and the areas and population in the county that are most vulnerable to these threats.
    
3. A demographic analysis has been completed. Facilities and populations within the county that pose special evacuation problems have been identified.
    
4. An evacuation may require substantial physical resources for transportation, communication and traffic control. Available public and private resources are identified on a continual basis.
    
5. Large-scale emergencies may necessitate the rapid evacuation of hospitals, nursing homes and non‑ambulatory populations. The Emergency Management section has identified facilities and populations within the county that pose special evacuation problems.

1. Sufficient warning time will normally be available to evacuate the threatened population.
    
2. The principal mode of transportation will be privately owned vehicles.
    
3. Particular areas of the county, or special populations within the county, will need additional time to accomplish an evacuation.
    
4. The public will both receive and understand official information related to evacuation. The public will act in its own interest and will evacuate dangerous areas promptly when advised to do so.
    
5. If there is sufficient advanced warning, some residents will evacuate prior to being advised to do so by public officials.
    
6. Most evacuees will seek shelter with relatives or friends rather than accept public shelter.
    
7. Some residents may refuse to evacuate regardless of warnings.
    
8. Some people will lack transportation. Others who are ill or disabled may require vehicles with special transportation capabilities.
    
9. Non-English speaking residents may not understand the warnings, or if in the county illegally, ignore them to avoid legal sanctions.

1. The ultimate responsibility for ordering an evacuation rests with local government. If only one municipality is to be evacuated, the Mayor will issue the order. If the evacuation involves more than one jurisdiction, or an area outside of a municipality, the order will be issued on a county level by the Chairman of the County Commissioners, or their designated elected / appointed representative.
    
2. By monitoring the progress of the evacuation, any impediments to the evacuation can be recognized and contingency options can be implemented.
    
3. Within the National Response Framework, all transportation functions are considered an emergency support function (ESF 1).

1. Movement Control and Guidance
   1. The size of the threatened area to be evacuated will be determined by conditions at the time of the emergency.
       
   2. Traffic movement during evacuation will be controlled by use of designated routes and traffic control points. The evacuation area will identify at least two routes of egress. One lane of each route will be kept open to permit ingress of emergency vehicles.
       
   3. Vehicle capacity for the major evacuation routes (US 17, US 13, NC 308, NC 305, NC 45 and NC 11) is estimated at 750 vehicles per lane, per hour in a single direction. An average of three (3) persons per vehicle is considered normal.
       
   4. Traffic movement is directed to pre-designated reception areas and shelters within Bertie County and in adjacent counties.
       
   5. Evacuation stations have been located along evacuation routes. Fuel, water, some sanitary facilities, assistance with evacuee vehicle problems, information and other services will be made available at these locations whenever possible.
       
   6. Vehicles experiencing mechanical problems during the evacuation will be moved off the roads. Stranded evacuees will be picked up by other evacuating vehicles, or by emergency response personnel.
       
2. Staging Areas and Pick‑up Points and Routes
   1. The County has determined pre-designated staging areas as mobilization points to organize the emergency response personnel and equipment entering from areas outside the county. A list of staging areas will be maintained by the EOC and/or the Operations Officer.
       
   2. Pick‑up points and/or routes will be established as needed. Evacuees without vehicles will be instructed to go to the nearest pick‑up point. Pick‑up routes have been pre-designated for the rural areas and (when possible) mirror school bus routes. Emergency vehicles will travel these routes at least twice during the evacuation to assure all evacuees without vehicles are assisted.
       
3. Evacuation of Special Populations (Institutions, Facilities and Special Needs Individuals)
   1. Institutions within the county have developed procedures for evacuation for their respective populations.
       
   2. Most patients and staff of the county's medical facilities will be evacuated by buses. Ambulances and vans will be provided for evacuation of non‑ambulatory individuals. Procedures for rapid evacuation and/or in‑place sheltering have been included for facilities in the danger zone from hazardous materials spills.
       
   3. Schools will develop evacuation procedures. Predestinated buses will be utilized for students without their own vehicles. Schools within the danger zone for hazardous materials spills will develop procedures for in-place sheltering and "walk‑away" evacuations. Parents will be advised of the location of reception centers.
       
   4. The public will be given a telephone number(s) for handicapped or disabled persons without transportation. The EMC will arrange pick‑up of these individuals by the County Rescue Squads and/or Fire Departments. The County Department of Social Services will advise the EMC of individuals known to need transportation assistance.
       
   5. Each prison and detention center within the county will develop procedures for the relocation of prisoners to jails outside of the threatened area.
       
   6. Evacuation from county parks and recreation areas will be coordinated by the Parks and Recreation Director. County parks representatives will advise the EMC of the scheduled special events that may draw crowds to the parks or recreation areas.
       
   7. Large employers within the county have procedures for evacuation of their employees. These procedures include, if needed, the temporary shut‑down of their facilities.
       
4. Emergency Public Information
   1. For other emergencies, warnings to the public and information concerning evacuation will be broadcast over the EAS network and/or by emergency vehicles equipped with sirens, warning lights, and/or loud‑speakers moving through the threatened areas. For localized evacuations, warning and evacuation instructions may also be given door‑to‑door.

1. Chairman of the Bertie County Board of Commissioners
   1. Declare and terminate a state of emergency when appropriate.
   2. Issue and terminate the evacuation order when appropriate.
   3. Authorize emergency workers to support evacuation and to enter and leave the threatened area(s).
   4. Request the assumption of state direction and control of the evacuation, if required.
   5. Assure the protection of public documents and public facilities during the emergency.
       
2. Emergency Management Coordinator
   1. Identify potential evacuation areas in accordance with Bertie County's hazard analysis.
   2. Develop evacuation procedures.
   3. Identify population groups requiring special assistance during evacuation (e.g. senior citizens, the very ill and disabled, nursing homes, prison populations, etc.).
   4. Assure that institutions within Bertie County have evacuation procedures.
   5. Coordinate with private industry for use of privately owned vehicles, communication, or other resources needed for evacuation management.
   6. Select staging areas or routes for pick‑up of persons without transportation.
   7. Assure, as required, the transportation of emergency workers into and out of the hazard areas.
   8. Assure evacuation of the handicapped, elderly and other special population groups.
   9. Coordinate the evacuation movement including the relocation into other jurisdictions.
   10. Designate and activate reception and shelter areas within Bertie County and coordinate with EMC from adjoining counties to ensure that reception areas and shelters have been designated in their counties and activated to receive relocatees.
   11. Monitor the progress of the evacuation and modify evacuation procedures when needed.
   12. Brief EOC staff and executive group on evacuation status.
   13. Establish disaster assistance centers if appropriate.
   14. Initiate the return of the population as soon as conditions are safe at the direction of the Chairman, Bertie County Board of County Commissioners.
        
3. Sheriff
   1. Identify primary and alternate evacuation routes and the traffic control mechanisms (e.g., road blocks) needed to ensure proper utilization of those routes.
   2. Establish staging areas in conjunction with fire departments rescue squads and the Transportation Coordinator.
   3. Assist in warning dissemination by distribution and/or enforcement of the evacuation order.
   4. Provide traffic control for diversion of traffic away from threatened area.
   5. Maintain law and order and protect property in the evacuated areas.
   6. Provide traffic and perimeter control for the evacuation where needed.
   7. Provide traffic control and security at reception centers and parking areas.
   8. Direct re-entry traffic into the evacuated area during recovery.
       
4. Transportation Coordinator
   1. Develop procedures for intra‑ and inter‑county transportation systems to move critical supplies and equipment from the hazard areas to reception areas and the transport of key emergency workers to and from the hazard area. Procedures will include movement of key workers on designated evacuation routes in either publicly or privately owned vehicles and/or buses.
   2. Utilize and maintain Bertie County resources lists to identify public and private transportation resources.
   3. Provide buses and trucks for evacuation.
   4. Coordinate with law enforcement on establishing staging areas, as well as with fire departments and rescue squads on designating pick‑up points and routes.
   5. Coordinate with and support law enforcement in establishing evacuation routes and traffic control points.
   6. Provide transportation support to fire departments and rescue squads for the evacuation of individuals without transportation.
   7. Advise the Emergency Management Coordinator of roadway conditions and support the removal of disabled vehicles or other blocks to evacuation.
   8. Obtain additional transportation resources, as needed from adjacent jurisdictions, the state and private sources.
       
5. Superintendent of Schools
   1. Maintain school transportation resources and provide for fuel support when refueling is necessary.
   2. Serve as the Transportation Coordinator.
   3. Direct the evacuation of school populations.
   4. Provide buses and other school vehicles if required for evacuation of the public.
       
6. Public Information Officer
   1. Develop and implement when necessary a public information program to increase citizen awareness and responsiveness to evacuation instructions.
   2. Conduct a public information campaign to disseminate disaster assistance information as necessary.
   3. Inform the public about evacuation routes, destinations and other vital information.
       
7. Fire Departments
   1. In conjunction with law enforcement and the Transportation Coordinator, establish staging areas.
   2. Support the evacuation of special institutions and handicapped / disabled individuals.
   3. Provide search and rescue services for lost individuals and for individuals unable to evacuate due to injury.
   4. Maintain fire protection services in evacuated areas.
       
8. Mayor(s)
   1. Develop plans for the security of municipal public documents and facilities.
   2. Develop a roster of key workers who must remain during an evacuation or return subsequent to the evacuation to relieve other key workers.
   3. Provide, as requested, municipal personnel and equipment resources to the county to support an evacuation.
       
9. Military Support Liaison
   1. Make all resource requests to counterpart on State Emergency Response Team.
   2. Coordinate with the Bertie County Office of Emergency Management regarding the availability of personnel and equipment resources from local military installations.
   3. Coordinate use of shelter facilities on military properties.
   4. Arrange for logistics support for evacuation operations when requested.
   5. Coordinate available military personnel to assist law enforcement in providing security for evacuated areas.

1. Chairman of the Board
2. County Manager
3. Emergency Management Coordinator

1. Superintendent of Schools
2. Assistant Superintendent of Schools
3. Transportation Director (CPTA)

Attachment 1
Evacuation / Transportation Checklist