Situations may arise where your local emergency manager may feel that emergent conditions exist which may warrant a voluntary, recommended or mandatory evacuation of your community in Atlantic County. These situations could occur during a hurricane, northeast storm, flooding event or even during some type of technological emergency that is affecting your town. Speedy action, when evacuation is necessary, will greatly aid emergency responders in doing their job as well as ensuring your relocation to a safer place quickly and efficiently.

Evacuate immediately if told to do so:

• Listen to your battery powered radio and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.
• Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Take your family disaster supplies kit (Click here for more information.)
• Lock your home.
• Use travel routes specified by local authorities--don't use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous
• Remember that if you anticipate staying in an evacuation shelter that there may not be a cot for you.  Bring bedding material and something to sleep on.

If you're sure you have time:

• Shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so.
• Post a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
• Make arrangements for your pets.

Evacuation Routes

The major evacuation routes for Atlantic County are: Atlantic City Expressway, the Garden State Parkway, US 9, US 30, US 40, US 322, State Routes 50, 87 and County Routes 559, Alt. 559 and Alt. 561.

When you begin to plan for an evacuation, be sure you have A Place To Go (Click here for details). Additional information can be found throughout this web site as well as the first section of your local telephone directory.

Please review the evacuation routes map to find the closest evacuation route out of your area. In the event that a hurricane threatens Atlantic County and an evacuation of the barrier islands and immediate mainland is necessary, the Governor of the State of New Jersey, will declare a "state of emergency" which will allow state and local authorities to take actions to rapidly evacuate Atlantic County. One of these actions may be to "reverse" the flow of traffic on the Atlantic City Expressway so that all lanes will be headed West, away from the path of the storm. This action will only be taken should a landfall hurricane be imminent and time is of the essence for a full scale evacuation. Click here to view the Lane Reversal Operation Instructions.