1. MISSISSIPPI CONTRAFLOW OPERATIONS Providing the State of Louisiana Assistance during the Hurricane Emergency Evacuation of New Orleans Bob Chapman Emergency Services Manager Emergency Transportation Operations Web Conference – April 25, 2007

2. Governed by a 3-person Transportation Commission elected form three Congressional Districts Employs 3,200 6 Districts & Jackson HQs Does not report to the Governor, but under his authority during a declared State of Emergency MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

3. Mississippi Gulf Coast Approximately 90 miles of coast line Three coastal county (pre-Katrina) population: Hancock County  45,145 Harrison County  189,614 Jackson County  133,928 Total coastal population  368,687

4. Evacuation Route Identification Evacuation Routes Classified as either: Limited Controlled Access Routes Have numerous entrance & exit points that cannot easily be controlled Divided Hwys, County Routes, City Streets Fully Controlled Access Routes Strictly controlled access (ingress/egress) Interstate System

5. Mississippi Gulf Coast Hurricane Evacuation North/South evacuation routes off the MS coast are all classified as “Limited Controlled Access Routes” US 49 is the primary evacuation route Contraflow is not a viable option for Mississippi population due to the limited controlled access routes

7. Why Is Mississippi Considering Contraflow? The State of Louisiana has asked for help with the evacuation of 1.4 million people from southeast Louisiana in case of a hurricane tracking towards New Orleans with the potential for a high storm surge producing unmanageable traffic congestion

8. Contraflow Options Option 1 - LA Contraflow (only within borders of LA) to MS State Line Option 2 - MS Contraflow (into MS): 21 miles of I-59 31 miles of I-55

9. I-59 Contraflow Route Limits I-55 Contraflow Route Limits

10. How Will Contraflow Be Implemented? For Option 1 (Louisiana only contraflow), LDOTD will contact MDOT of their plans to contraflow within Louisiana, requiring MDOT to close SB Interstate at state line (MDOT Director authorizes implementation) For Option 2 (contraflow into Mississippi), the Louisiana Governor requests assistance directly from the MS Governor

11. Implementing Contraflow (cont.) MDOT, MDPS & MEMA make recommendations to the MS Governor MS Governor authorizes implementation of contraflow into Mississippi I-59 & I-55 southbound traffic is forced off and all lanes become northbound on the designated sections of roadway MDOT is the lead agency for contraflow operations in Mississippi

12. Phases of Contraflow Implementation 1.Notification of LA intent & MS Governor approval to implement 2.Staging Personnel & Equipment 3.Clearing SB Traffic 4.Implementing All Lane NB flow 5.Termination / Shutdown

13. Louisiana Actions Louisiana initiates contraflow operations Provide 3 hours advance notice to MDOT prior to decision to implement Option 1 Provide 4 hours advance notice to MS prior to decision to implement Option 2 If MS has not already implemented Option 1, then 7 hours advance notice will be required for Option 2

14. Initial TEST - Hurricane Dennis After Hours Contraflow Activation Friday, July 8, 2005 at 10:15 PM, LA requests the need to implement contraflow into MS at 8 AM the next day MS Governor approves use of I-59 MDOT staff notifications begin at 1 AM MDOT in place and ready by 7:30 AM LA decides contraflow not needed and stands down Saturday, July 9 at 10 AM

15. Hurricane Katrina Contraflow Timeline Saturday, August 27, 2005 at 8 AM - LA requests the need to implement contraflow into MS at 5 PM that afternoon MS Governor approves use of I-59 & I-55 MDOT staff notifications begin at 9:15 PM MDOT in place and ready by 4:30 PM LA implements contraflow into MS at 5:30 PM

16. Contraflow Operations

17. Hurricane Katrina Contraflow Timeline (cont.) Sunday, August 28, 2005 – Contraflow operations terminate at 5 PM Contraflow operations last 24 hrs It takes six more hours, until 11 PM, for MDOT to remove and store traffic control equipment and disperse personnel Monday, August 29 – Katrina makes landfall, 6:10 AM in LA & 10 AM in MS

18. PUBLIC INFORMATION PRIOR TO AND DURING AN EMERGENCY IS CRITICAL FOR EMERGENCY TRAFFIC INFORMATION USE MDOT’s WEB SITE  www.GoMDOT.com www.GoMDOT.com Traveling Information Current conditions Evacuation routes Roadway status MDOT Emergency Plans

19. Katrina Landfall – August 29, 2005

20. Hwy 90 Bridge at Ocean Springs, Jackson County Hwy 90 Bridge at Bay St Louis, Hancock County I-10, Hancock County Hwy 90 Bridge at Pass Christian, Harrison County

21. Hwy 90 Roadway Damage

22. St. Charles Condos, Biloxi, Harrison County Grand Casino, Hwy 90, Gulfport, Harrison County Bay St. Louis, Hancock County

23. AFTERMATH Record setting storm surge of over 30 ft 3 rd strongest landfall in U.S. history 6 th strongest storm ever in Atlantic Basin 90,000 sq mile disaster area Over 1 million people displaced 48 of Mississippi’s 82 counties declared disaster areas

24. CRITICAL NEEDS ADDRESSED Self-Sustaining for 72 Hours Communications Maintain Adequate Supply of Fuel Food & Water to Support Workers Accommodations to Support Workers

25. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Chapman Emergency Services Manager Mississippi Department of Transportation email:bchapman@mdot.state.ms.us