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hurricanes. The wide spread wind destruction from Hurricane Andrew has us encouraging residents of other modest or weak structures to seek safer shelters too. The overall goal of this plan is to define the evacuation road network and general traffic control issues that would affect traffic flow along critical roadway segments and provide evacuees the necessary clearance times from evacuation areas. Clearance time is the time required to clear the roadway of all vehicles evacuating in response to a hurricane or other severe weather events. Clearance time begins when the first evacuating vehicle enters the road network and ends when the last evacuating vehicle reaches an assumed point of safety. Clearance time includes the time required by evacuees to secure their homes and prepare to leave, the time spent by evacuees traveling along the road network, and time lost due to traffic congestion. Clearance time does not relate to the time any one vehicle spends traveling on the road network. The Florida Statewide Regional Evacuation Study Program (2010) illustrates clearance times for Indian River County. In-County Clearance Time is defined as the time required from the point an evacuation order is given until the last evacuee can either leave the evacuation zone or arrive at safe shelter within the county. In-County clearance times for Indian River County are expected to range from 12.5 hours to 27 hours. A hurricane evacuation should be completed prior to the arrival of sustained gale-force (34 knots or 39 mph)winds or the onset of storm surge inundation, whichever occurs first. The clearance time is measured in hours required prior to the arrival of gale-force winds. Since each storm is unique in intensity, ground speed, and projected track, the decision to announce an evacuation order remains subjective and dependent upon information from the National Hurricane Center, local conditions, and the expected time of landfall. The announcement of an evacuation order has a profound social and financial impact on the community; therefore an evacuation order will most likely be given with just enough time to perform a safe evacuation. The movement of vehicles during an evacuation requires extensive traffic control efforts to make maximum use of roadway capacity and to expedite safe escape from hurricane hazards; this requires the coordinated efforts of municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies. Some evacuees' destination is within the County, while others may leave the area. Each of these scenarios is complicated as Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex V- Page 4