Hurricane Readiness: The Search for a Workable Plan

I've lived in hurricane country most of my life. I've been through more named storms than I could easily count. For the conversation about what we can do better, I'd like to offer this modest proposal.

Hurricane response should be tiered according to the classification of the hurricane. An example response plan might be:

All Categories of Hurricanes

• Have warehoused containers of emergency supplies ready to ship within 1 day's drive of areas likely to suffer disasters
  
• Have designated, pre-announced bus pickup sites for evacuees to avoid confusion and road congestion
  
• Have designated, pre-announced shelter plans for large-scale evacuations
  
• Have registry of people needing further assistance evacuating

Category 1

• Evacuate all areas within 1 mile of coast and structures not rated for Category 1 winds (e.g. trailers, shacks)
  
• Non-evacuees to have 3 days' supplies on hand
  

Category 2

• Evacuate all areas within 2 miles of coast and structures not rated for Category 2 winds
  
• Have 1 week's supplies on hand

Category 3

• Evacuate all areas within 5 miles of coast or elevation less than 10 feet above sea level, and structures not rated for Category 3 winds.
  
• Have 1 week's supplies on hand

Category 4

• Evacuate all areas within 10 miles of coast or elevation less than 10 feet above sea level, and structures not rated for Category 4 winds
  
• Have 2 weeks' supplies on hand

Category 5

• Evacuate all areas within 20 miles of coast, or elevation less than 20 feet above sea level, and structures not rated for Category 5 winds
  
• Have 2 weeks' supplies on hand

In addition to these, I think it would generally be advisable to have emergency funds available for disasters -- which occur with predictable regularity -- pre-approved and budgeted.