Hazard Vulnerability Assessment

Chemical - Transportation

General information index. Also see current hazmat mitigation measures.

Fictitious County has 61.24 miles of Interstate Highway, 230.01 miles of U.S. Highways and 1,219.42 miles of North Carolina or secondary highways. The N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles estimates 20,000 commercial carriers every twenty four hours on the Interstate system alone, passing through Fictitious County. A traffic count conducted (March 26, 2002) for an eight hour period during a weekday, counted south bound, placarded, tractor trailer trucks carrying various forms of hazardous material. The number of trucks counted was 311. Using estimates mathematically calculated (3 periods of 8hrs each x 311 = 933 Tt in 24 hours in the SBL of I-77) (2 travel directions x 933 = 1,866) (2 Interstate highways x 1,866 = 3,732). It can be concluded by estimation, that approximately 18% of all commercial carriers in a twenty four hour period are carrying various forms of hazardous material. A relative few transport extremely hazardous substances.

Examining a one mile corridor along each major route, it has been determined that approximately 70% of the population of Fictitious County (*128,975 x 70% = 90,282) or 90,282 persons live or work within one mile of at least one major highway. Fictitious County's population is estimated to be 150,000 by 2010 and the population density in the one mile corridor is expected to increase. Keeping the same 70% population effected, by 2010 over 100,000 people will live within the combined one mile transportation corridors defined below and outlined in the demographics portion of the County Emergency Operations Plan.

For the purposes of planning the vulnerability to this hazard is divided into three groups: Critical Facilities, Commercial Facilities and Residential. Each corridor is listed. There are overlaps in facilities and residential in each corridor (i.e., I-77 and I-40 interchange). Often highways intersect and/or parallel one another.

It should be noted that while the overall area is high, the population in the corridor is high, and the potential for occurrence is high (See hazard matrix for rating); the potential to affect the entire population in each corridor is low. Hazardous materials spills or leaks generally do not affect areas larger than a one mile perimeter and one mile down wind.

I-77

I-40

US 21

US 64

US 70

NC 90

NC 115

NC 150/152

NC 801

NC 901