Experts say preparation is key when planning to evacuate.  Many people wonder which route they should take or they consider how long they will be in traffic before reaching their destination but experts say those things should not be your first concerns.

Your first concern should be how well your car is operating.  “Are your headlights working, your windshield wipers working, your tires inflated?,” says Florida Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Mike Goldman.

Goldman compares it to changing the battery in the smoke detectors when the time changes twice a year.  He says you should follow the same rule of thumb when storm season comes.  

For example:  What if something went wrong with your vehicle and you blocked a lane of travel on a major roadway?  What type of impact would that have on traffic?  If evacuation orders were in place for the better part of Jacksonville and surrounding areas your one vehicle could delay traffic for miles.  Not only would you get stuck in the wind and rain but the motorists behind you as well.

Moral:  Get your vehicle in working order now!

How do you know where to go if evacuation orders are given?  “Look and see where your address is and if you are in an evacuation zone and listen for directions,“ says Emergency Management Chief Martin Senterfitt.  The city's website allows you to put in your address and it will tell you the evacuation zone and route.
Senterfitt says it's best to understand where you live before a storm strikes so you won't have to worry about it at the last minute.  He says evacuation routes are not complicated.  “The routes are very intuitive. For instance, if they get on the interstate there will be signs directing them where to go,” says Senterfitt.

The Duval EOC leader says the most important thing you can do is “listen for directions” and follow the evacuation orders of local city officials.  Senterfitt encourages everyone not to stick around until the last minute.  “The secret is to leave early,” says Senterfitt.  

Another way to understand evacuation routes is to consider storm surge zones.  There are markers at various places around the city including the beaches and fire stations.  These markers are a visual of how high water could get in a given area for different storm categories.  The markers were installed during the Peyton administration.  It was part of Operation Reality Check.  

The FDOT has improved technology and signs on roadways around the city.  Spokesman Mike Goldman says the signs on interstates are more wind resistant and the message boards will direct you where you should go.    

Goldman also says contraflow is one option to help you get out of  town in the event of an evacuation but that is only by the order of the governor and takes many hours to prepare.