United States Department of Transportation
i
Identification of a Response and Rescue Network for the St. Louis Region [Research Summary]
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2024-05-01
[PDF-375.66 KB]
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Abstract:Emergency preparedness and response are crucial for mitigating the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes. The St. Louis metropolitan region is vulnerable to earthquakes in the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones. This study focuses on understanding and addressing transportation impacts of an earthquake in the St. Louis region. An online survey conducted across eight counties in the St. Louis region gathered data on citizen preferences, travel patterns, and vehicle usage during an evacuation. The research team employed transportation simulation tools, including macroscopic and mesoscopic approaches, to assess regional traffic impacts. The research evaluated the effects of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake, considering infrastructure damage estimates from the USGS ShakeCast model. Performance measures like average vehicle speed and operating speed-to-speed limit ratio were gathered from the simulation to determine congestion across the road network. Twelve evacuation scenarios were assessed using simulation. The scenarios varied based on the level of damage to the road network, evacuation demand, and timing of the earthquake. Results showed that morning earthquakes resulted in the worst traffic impacts. Mesoscopic models confirmed severe congestion on MO 100 and identified bottlenecks on I-170 and US 67. A tabletop exercise was conducted with key emergency response stakeholders in the St. Louis region to better understand coordination and communication needs during an earthquake response. This study aims to equip stakeholders with tools for effective response, aiding emergency responders, urban planners, and policymakers in minimizing the impact of earthquakes.
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