Evacuation mapping: the utility of guidelines

Maps provided to the public for preventive and protective evacuations should be an integral part of emergency plans. The map design criteria contained in the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines for nuclear power plants were examined and compared with the content and design of evacuation maps found in the public information publications of thirteen United States nuclear power plants. Results indicated that the graphic and descriptive content of these maps varied considerably. Four characteristics related chiefly to the FEMA guidelines capture some of the findings from this study: 1) failure to comply with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRQ/FEMA suggestions; 2) failure to comply with FEMA guidelines for map elements; 3) weaknesses present in the FEMA guidelines themselves; and 4) significant omissions in those guidelines.