LSU’s Stephenson Disaster Management Institute is currently surveying residents in 10 southwest Louisiana parishes about their hurricane evacuation plans. Institute Director Brant Mitchell says the survey is looking for information to improve evacuation operations.
“Where are people going to go when they evacuate during hurricanes? Will they leave, what routes will they take? Where will they stay? Will they be staying with family members, or hotels? Will they need shelters? Will they be taking pets?” said Mitchell of the questions in the survey.
Mitchell says the phone survey takes 18 minutes to complete and the caller ID will read “LSU”.
Information from the poll will help emergency preparedness officials determine when is it a good time to call for an evacuation.
“We’re looking to make sure those numbers are good and are consistent with the population size and the capabilities of evacuation routes to support that size population,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell says these types of surveys happen in other hurricane-prone areas as well.
“They do these studies annually, all across the eastern and Gulf coast states, really trying to learn how to better prepare emergency responders,” said Mitchell.
Calls will be made to those living in Acadia, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermillion Parishes.
