[sustran] "Lessons From Katrina" - New VTPI Paper

[Todd Alexander Litman]

For Immediate Release: 20 September 2005


"Lessons From Katrina: What A Major Disaster Can Teach Transportation 
Planners" (<http://www.vtpi.org/katrina.pdf>http://www.vtpi.org/katrina.pdf )
By Todd Litman


Summary
This paper examines failures in Hurricane Katrina disaster response 
and their lessons for transportation policy and planning in other 
communities. It identifies various policy and planning strategies 
that can help create a more efficient, equitable and resilient 
transport system.

The evacuation plan functioned relatively well for motorists, but 
failed to serve people who depend on public transit. Transport 
planners can help prevent future disasters by demanding that 
emergency response plans devote at least as much attention to the 
evacuation and care of non-drivers as they do to motorists.

Non-drivers include many people with various physical, economic and 
social problems. Planners need to anticipate these people's needs. 
This may require special community outreach and communications 
activities to build understanding and trust among planners and the 
people they serve.

 From a transport planning perspective, the greatest mistake in New 
Orleans was the lack of a detailed action plan to dispatch buses for 
evacuating transit-dependent residents. Such a plan would include an 
inventory of all available buses and essential staff, and 
pre-established procedures to deploy buses when an evacuation order 
is announced.

It is important to understand why many people ignored evacuation 
orders. Many faced logistical or financial barriers obtaining 
transport out of the city. Many had nowhere to go and were fearful of 
emergency shelter conditions. Some stayed to protect their property 
or pets, or out of bravado. Addressing these objections would 
increase evacuation order response.

A variety of planning policies and programs can help create a more 
resilient transport system. These increase system diversity and 
integration, improve user information, prioritize use of 
infrastructure, and provide special services during emergencies. 
These can benefit everybody in a community, even people who currently 
rely on automobile transportation.



Sincerely,

Todd Alexander Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)
litman at vtpi.org
Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
    
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