Evacuation of citizens from their homes during an emergency requires a coordinated effort among several public safety agencies. A determination must be made to either physically evacuate people to a safe location or in-place shelter.

The decision to evacuate may be made by the Incident Commander when a clear and immediate danger to human life or health is identified (e.g., a toxic chemical spill). When the threat to life or health slowly increases over time (e.g., dangerous strengthening of a hurricane with a projected track to impact the county and increasing chances of heavy flood damage), the decision to evacuate may be made after the declaration of an emergency and shall be so ordered by the declaring authority (refer to Emergency Evacuation Order).

The Liberty County Sheriff and Central City Police Departments shall have the primary responsibility and authority to conduct an evacuation once they are directed to do so by an Incident Commander or by the authority declaring a disaster. Assistance may be provided by the Fire Service, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, the Columbia National Guard, and other allied agencies.

Evacuation of persons in imminent danger is considered mandatory when ordered by the authority. Persons disobeying a legitimate order to evacuate may be arrested in accordance with State and local authorities. Evacuations conducted as a precautionary measure are considered to be voluntary in nature and persons who refuse to be evacuated may be left in their premises at their own risk and peril.

Upon receipt of a directive to evacuate a defined area, officers of the municipal police department or sheriff’s department will first establish a perimeter to prevent entry into the area to be evacuated and will then establish clear and mandatory avenues of egress from the designated area.