US EditionTraffic Gridlock Leads City to Reconsider Evacuation Advice
HONOLULU COUNTY, HAWAII, JUL 31 – Officials say rush hour timing and over-evacuation caused severe traffic delays during tsunami warning; some tourists evacuated unnecessarily, complicating efforts, officials said.
- On Wednesday, Hawaii officials said over-evacuation by tourists worsened traffic congestion during the tsunami warning.
- Triggered by a magnitude 8.8 quake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, Wednesday’s tsunami warning was issued over more than 1,000 kilometers from Hokkaido, with waves arriving at least five hours later.
- Congestion peaked near downtown Honolulu when traffic crawled on S Beretania Street, and State Rep. Adrian Tam warned of dangerous gridlock in Waikiki with only four roads in and out.
- To manage flows, agencies sent police to key areas, used loudspeakers, blocked zones, and manipulated traffic lights, officials say.
- Officials plan to refine evacuation messaging, with Ed Sniffen saying he doesn't regret warnings but wants more guidance on managing evacuation timing.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Meadville Tribune
People had hours before the tsunami hit Hawaii. How they spent it worsened evacuation gridlock
Hawaii officials say the timing of the tsunami warning and evacuation orders following this week's massive earthquake off Russia helped make for severe traffic congestion in some areas. With hours of notice before the waves were to hit, some residents…
Over-evacuation likely worsened Hawaii tsunami traffic, officials say
David Sun-Miyashiro was at home on the 31st floor of a Honolulu apartment building, high above danger, when his phone alerted him to a possible tsunami from a massive earthquake far across the Pacific Ocean.
Tsunami Evacuations Brought Heatstroke Concerns, Traffic Congestion; Some Residents Reluctant to Flee
Traffic congestion and the risk of heatstroke were among the problems that emerged as people followed evacuation directives issued Wednesday after a powerful earthquake off Russia’s east coast sent tsunami barreling toward Japan.
Tsunami threat triggered islandwide gridlock, reveals gaps in emergency evacuation | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Damaging waves from Tuesday’s tsunami to Hawaii never materialized, but the traffic it triggered offered a sobering real-time test of Oahu’s evacuation capacity — one that state officials admit was deeply strained.
'Over-evacuation' May Have Prompted Traffic Problems Before Tsunami Hit Hawaii, Officials Say
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. David Sun-Miyashiro was at home on the 31st floor of a Honolulu apartment building, high above danger, when his phone alerted him to a possible tsunami from a massive earthquake far across the Pacific Ocean. World News | 'Over-evacuation' May Have Prompted Traffic Problems Before Tsunami Hit Hawaii, Officials Say.
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