THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160430
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MATTHEW BOWERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Hurricane Felix is coming, so people are leaving.
Those fleeing North Carolina's Outer Banks on Tuesday clogged Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake, the primary path north off the tourist-packed barrier islands. Today, more are expected to leave, on their own or at local governments' urging, as the storm nears land with its winds and rain.
Recommended evacuation routes follow legendary publisher Horace Greeley's admonition: Go west.
But stay on the main roads.
Evacuation routes from South Hampton Roads follow the major highways, said Sgt. Elmer L. Jones at Virginia State Police division headquarters in Chesapeake: Interstate 64, U.S. Route 58 and U.S. Route 460.
``If you get off the roads, you get into problems'' of possible flooding and traffic, agreed Robert L. Smith, emergency services coordinator for Suffolk, where much evacuation traffic would head.
``When you have that much rain,'' Smith added, ``streets that don't normally flood, they can flood.''
If the storm gets near enough for formal evacuations to begin, the safety routes become more clearly defined.
The Virginia Department of Transportation's regional plan calls for two phases:
In Phase One, from six to 12 hours before the storm arrives:
Virginia Beach - Oceanfront residents and tourists use the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway to I-64 east toward Suffolk and U.S. Routes 58 and 460, which can be followed to Interstates 85 and 95.
Residents living south of the expressway also use I-64 east toward Suffolk.
Residents living north of the expressway use I-64 west toward Richmond.
Roadway barriers, police and highway workers may control access to the interstate to help regulate traffic flow. The center HOV lanes will be kept clear for emergency vehicles only.
Norfolk - Residents living east of I-64, or outside the I-64 loop, use I-64 west toward Richmond.
Residents living west of I-64, or inside the interstate loop, use I-64 east toward Suffolk.
Eastern Shore - All residents of Northampton and Accomack counties use U.S. Route 13 north toward Salisbury, Md. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel isn't an evacuation route.
In Phase Two, starting eight hours before the storm's arrival:
Portsmouth - Residents living north of Interstate 264 use U.S. Route 17 north to U.S. Route 258-Virginia Route 32 south in Isle of Wight County to Virginia Route 10 west toward Smithfield. Residents may use Virginia Route 337 west and Interstate 664 north to reach U.S. Route 17.
Residents living south of I-264 use Airline Boulevard to U.S. Routes 58-460 to Suffolk and points west.
Chesapeake - All residents use I-64 east, I-264 east or I-664 south to U.S. Routes 58-460 to Suffolk and points west.
Suffolk - Residents north of Virginia Route 125 use U.S. Route 17 north to U.S. Route 258-Virginia 32 to Virginia 10 west toward Smithfield.
If you're planning to leave, leave early, officials warn. ``Such an evacuation will result in very congested traffic conditions,'' reads a Virginia Beach hurricane-preparedness checklist. ``This means many who wish to evacuate may not be able to leave the area.''
Those staying behind need to watch out for the usual flooded roads near waterways and in low-lying areas. ILLUSTRATION: Graphics
Maps
BOB VOROS/Staff
STORM SHELTERS
NORFOLK EVACUATION ROUTES
VIRGINIA BEACH EVACUATION ROUTES
CHESAPEAKE & PORTSMOUTH EVACUATION ROUTES
SUFFOLK EVACUATION ROUTES
[For complete graphics, please see microfilm]
by CNB