Keeping Tracking of Emergency Information

Late last summer Hurricane Irene struck the New England region, moving westward across New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The force of this storm destroyed roads and bridges stranding locals as well as stymying bicycle travelers (including our first ever Atlantic Coast tour).

With all the budget cuts in roadway funding, we weren't certain if the roads we use on our Atlantic Coast, Northern Tier and Green Mountains Loop routes would necessarily be repaired or when. Often their rural nature can keep them low on maintenance crew priorities. Happily, we recently received news that all closed roads in Vermont -- where the damage seemed to be the worst -- are reopened, though some are still in various stages of construction.


Throughout the storm's life and the region's recovery from it, we've been glad to have the Temporary ACA Route Road Closures forum discussion. It proved to be a valuable place for cyclists to gather virtually and share information. The route-specific hashtags -- especially #acaAtlCoast, #acaNoTier and #acaGreenMtns -- got a workout, too. We plan to continue using these avenues to keep you informed in these types of situations.

This year I anticipate using the Google Public Alerts map during the spring floods so I can monitor where they may be affecting our route network. This new tool from google.org is an effort to coordinate the distribution of information in emergencies. (It would be especially easy to use if it could be set up in the same manner as our Forest Fire Map. A cartographer can dream, right?)


What tools do you use to keep track of developing weather issues when you are on the road? Do you have any advice for your fellow travelers who might find themselves stuck due to Mother Nature's actions?

Top photo by the Vermont Agency of Transportation
Bottom photos by Lars Gange & Mansfield Heliflight 

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures, and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/02/keeping-tracking-of-emergency.html

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