MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI CONTRAFLOW CONTRAFLOW OPERATIONSOPERATIONS

Providing the State of Louisiana Providing the State of Louisiana Assistance during the Hurricane Assistance during the Hurricane

Emergency Evacuation of New OrleansEmergency Evacuation of New Orleans

Bob ChapmanBob ChapmanEmergency Services Emergency Services

ManagerManager

Emergency Transportation Operations Emergency Transportation Operations Web Conference – April 25, 2007Web Conference – April 25, 2007

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

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

Evacuation Route Identification

Evacuation Routes Classified as either:Limited Controlled Access Routes

Have numerous entrance & exit points thatcannot easily be controlled

Divided Hwys, County Routes, City Streets Fully Controlled Access Routes

Strictly controlled access (ingress/egress) Interstate System

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

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

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

I-59 Contraflow I-59 Contraflow Route LimitsRoute Limits

I-55 Contraflow I-55 Contraflow Route LimitsRoute Limits

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contraflow Contraflow OperationsOperations

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

PUBLIC INFORMATION PRIOR TO AND DURING AN EMERGENCY IS CRITICAL

FOR EMERGENCY TRAFFIC INFORMATION USE

MDOT’s WEB SITE

www.GoMDOT.com Traveling Information

Current conditions Evacuation routes Roadway status

MDOT Emergency Plans

Katrina Landfall – August 29, 2005Katrina Landfall – August 29, 2005

Hwy 90 Bridge at Ocean Springs,Hwy 90 Bridge at Ocean Springs,Jackson CountyJackson County

Hwy 90 Bridge at Bay St Hwy 90 Bridge at Bay St Louis, Hancock CountyLouis, Hancock County

I-10, Hancock CountyI-10, Hancock County Hwy 90 Bridge at Pass Hwy 90 Bridge at Pass Christian, Harrison CountyChristian, Harrison County

Hwy 90 Roadway Hwy 90 Roadway Damage Damage

St. Charles Condos, Biloxi, St. Charles Condos, Biloxi, Harrison CountyHarrison County

Grand Casino, Hwy 90, Gulfport, Grand Casino, Hwy 90, Gulfport, Harrison CountyHarrison County

Bay St. Louis, Bay St. Louis, Hancock CountyHancock County

AFTERMATH

Record setting storm surge of over 30 ft 3rd strongest landfall in U.S. history 6th 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

CRITICAL NEEDS ADDRESSED

Self-Sustaining for 72 Hours Communications Maintain Adequate Supply of Fuel Food & Water to Support Workers Accommodations to Support

Workers

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bob ChapmanBob ChapmanEmergency Services ManagerEmergency Services ManagerMississippi Department of TransportationMississippi Department of Transportationemail:email: bchapman@mdot.state.ms.usbchapman@mdot.state.ms.us