Users Guide - the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center

Real Time Evacuation Planning Model (RtePM)A Decision Support Tool for Emergency Managers and First RespondersResponse TabThe Response window (Figure 18) allows users to set evacuation response parameters that help managethe volume of evacuees exiting affected zones. Under the “One Day” option, there are two types ofresponses, Standard (slow/medium/fast) and Custom. Standard response timing is a preset correspondingto the 11 (Slow), 8 (Medium) and 5 (Fast) hour response curves from the Army Corps of EngineersHurricane Evacuation Study. Custom timing is set using the Custom (Hours) field. Clicking the radiobutton next to "Custom (Hours)" allows you to select a custom response time from 1-24 hours.Additionally, users may want to define a Starting Hour. The Starting Hour defines how long into theevacuation people will wait before they start entering the road network. For example, if there are twozones, A and B, and A has a starting hour of 0 and B has a starting hour of 6, vehicles from zone A wouldstart entering the road network as soon as the evacuation started while vehicles from zone B would startentering the road network 6 hours after the evacuation started. This gives the planner the ability tostagger or phase evacuation zones.Figure 18 – Single Day Response ScreenResponse timing can also be defined over a period of days by selecting the Multi Day option (Figure 19).When choosing the Multi Day option, the following field must be defined:Day 1 Starting hour of evacuation on first day Ending hour of evacuation on first day Percentage leaving on first dayDay 2 Starting hour of evacuation on second day Ending hour of evacuation on second day Percentage leaving on second dayMulti Day response timing provides the planner with additional flexibility when executing scenarios.12