Evacuation Routes

Before an emergency happens, you and your family need to be familiar with the evacuation routes for your area. Contact your local emergency management office to find your evacuation route. If for some reason your evacuation route is blocked, tune in to local radio stations for further directions.

Evacuate or stay?
There are two paths.
Which path should you take?

Use this interactive guide
(FLASH format) to guide you through the steps to take
whether you stay (shelter in place)
or whether you evacuate.

CREDIT: Virginia Department of Transportation
for the "Evacuate or Stay?" graphic ( Virginia Hurricane Guide )

Emergency driving tips:

• Fill your car's gas tank before you leave since you won't know how far you'll have to go.
• Evacuate in a calm, orderly manner, and obey the instructions of the officers directing traffic.
• Steer clear of flooded roads and intersections.  You can lose control of your vehicle in several inches of water, and  your car can be swept away in less than a foot of water.  Flash floods often cause fatalities when motorists try to drive on flooded sections of roads.  If you can't see the markings on the road, don't drive through the water.
• If there is an explosion or other factor that makes it difficult to control the vehicle, pull over, stop the car and set the parking brake.
• If the emergency could impact the physical stability of the roadway, avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards.
• If a power line falls on your car you are at risk of electrical shock, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.
• Always wear a seat belt. Seat belts save lives and prevent injuries.  Airbags are designed to work with your seat belt.  Otherwise, the airbag could hit your chest with the force of a baseball bat.
• If you become drowsy, open the windows, turn on the radio, or pull over and take a nap, even 20 minutes if you need to.
• Don't rubberneck.  Drive by an accident scene at a safe speed and keep your eyes on the road.  Also, don't talk on a cell phone, read a map, or have any other distractions while driving.
• Listen to the radio for information and instructions as they become available.
• Once the emergency has passed, stay off the roads so they will be clear for emergency vehicles.  Do not return until local officials say it is safe to do so.