
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994                    TAG: 9406010152 
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER                     PAGE: 25    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: SPECIAL TO THE CLIPPER 
DATELINE: 940603                                 LENGTH: Short

HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTES CHOSEN

{LEAD} If a hurricane hit Chesapeake, what route would you take to safety?

The Virginia Department of Transportation, working with the Hampton Roads Emergency Management Committee, has developed a comprehensive plan to evacuate Hampton Roads if a hurricane threatens our area.

{REST} It has mapped out special evacuation routes for all Hampton Roads locales, Chesapeake included.

Based on a hurricane's strength and potential for damage, the cities and counties may order residents to evacuate. The operation would be conducted in two distinct, overlapping phases.

During the first phase, six to 12 hours before the arrival of sustained winds of 40 mph, the areas most affected would be Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Poquoson and part of Hampton, York County, the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.

During the second phase, up to eight hours before the storm, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News and part of Hampton would be considered for evacuation.

Chesapeake residents would be instructed to use Interstate64 east, Interstate 264 east or Interstate 664 south to Route 58/460 west toward Suffolk.

During evacuation, access to interstates at many points will be controlled to keep traffic moving. In addition, reversible HOV lanes will be closed to all but emergency vehicles.

If an evacuation were ordered, tolls would be suspended from all roads and bridges and the timing sequences of traffic lights would be adjusted to increase the flow of traffic out of the area.

{KEYWORDS} HURRICANE EVACUATION PLAN\

by CNB