ABSTRACT
Recent events of both man-made and natural origins have resulted in nations and governments developing emergency response plans to protect their populations. In fact, most American cities have prepared for local and regional emergencies and have some sort of plans in place to respond to them. However, many emergency response plans are still being developed or are in the process of evolving to meet expected needs. Th e questions that remain are: Have American cities prepared in detail for serious or “doomsday” possibilities like hurricanes or extensive terrorist attacks that could require evacuating people from threatened areas? Are these plans capable of evacuating millions of people from danger areas at relatively short notice? What variables should be considered by regional planners when developing an evacuation plan as part of a comprehensive emergency plan?
