This document summarizes a project to map alternate evacuation routes for flooding in Jackson County, Illinois. Precipitation and elevation data were analyzed to identify danger zones near bodies of water. Maps were created showing precipitation levels, population density, elevation, potential evacuation routes avoiding danger zones, and zones of immediate flood risk. The maps aim to help emergency services and residents evaluate flood risk and plan evacuation routes to shelters.

1. Amber Blakeslee, Nicholas Kunkel, Cassidy Younker, Ryan Wendell
Geography 416: Cartographic Design, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Fall 2011
Abstract Methods Results & Discussion
We want to provide an assessment on alternate routes that could Precipitation data were data scrubbed and organized using MS Excel. The table was then joined to the station structure shapefile for Our first two maps show the precipitation, population density
be utilized in case of flooding in Jackson County using analysis. 3D bar charts for Spring and Summer 2009,2010, and 2011 calculations were used. Multiple-ring buffers were used to estimate and Elevation data. These are all crucial factors in finding safe
elevation and precipitation data as our main focus. We thought the flood danger zones for major bodies of water in the county. A DEM image was then clipped to an existing county polygon in order to routes during a flood evacuation. The third map shows possible
of this particular issue because of the flooding that occurred in display elevation. Text background callout labeling techniques were used for all labeling in the maps. A Geometric Network was created evacuation routes due to the precipitation and elevation data.
April of 2011 which hindered travel on many roadways and from the centerline (roads) shapefile in order to calculate safe routes for people in the county. The Utility Network Analyst tool was The map clearly shows danger zones that drivers should avoid.
especially around the lakes and rivers. We wanted to provide used in the calculation of said routes. This map also clearly displays, in red marks, the safe routes to
emergency vehicles with alternate routes based on the level of evacuate flooded areas in Jackson County. Our last map just
elevation of the land and Jackson County land layout. We are points out the danger zones specifically. These better
going to query certain routes and use buffering to display and cartographic design techniques break down and better label
represent that where travel is allowed exactly where the danger zones for dangerous flooding is.
These maps clearly show that areas of danger are directly
correlated to bodies of water. Our maps effectively show the
main factors in finding good flood evacuation routes and
preparation.
Background
Based on the flooding of last April, we argue that determining
sound evacuation routes will help deal with the unpredictability
Future Directions
of flooding in the county of Jackson IL. In April of 2011 there The map showing safe routes and evacuation (figure 4) is far
was a record level of rainfall of 7.45 inches which caused a from perfect and can be improved upon with more specified
massive flood that nearly wiped out most of the area. Jackson criteria. Also, the temporary shelters need to be geographically
County was declared a disaster area and in damage was done. monitored in order to determine if they are at risk of being
The services that are provided now are useful but mostly to under water in a flood disaster. Precipitation data is greatly
assess flood insurance and floodplain. We would like to needed for Grand Tower (2010 and 2011 data is missing) due to
Figure 2: Jackson County Flood Variables. Precipitation data were calculated in Figure 3: Jackson County Flood Variables. Same as figure 2. June, July and August
produce a map of Jackson County that will allow average inches . The population density units are persons per square mile. Elevation range consist of Summer precipitation months. our analysis showing that the town is in danger zone 1 (figure
citizens and emergency services to assess their own flood risk is from 97 feet to 260 feet. March, April and May consist of Spring months. 5). Lastly, soil and aquifer data is needed in order to perform
and to show possible evacuation routes to safe fallout structures
more accurate analyses on Jackson County flood disasters.
set up throughout the county.
Conclusions
Overall our maps and analysis accurately provide safe
Figure 1: A general reference map showing
the locations of temporary shelters.
evacuation routes in the event of a catastrophic flood.. Through
Centerline road segments were added to give analyzing elevation and precipitation we were able to spatially
people an idea of how to get to shelters in the show where dangerous areas are during a flood and also what
event of a flood.
evacuation routes are safe during a flood. We hope that the
finding is our project can allow people to safely evacuate
Jackson county in the case of a severe flood disaster.
Study area and datasets
The study area for this project is Jackson County. All the data Figure 4: Jackson County Safe Route scenario. Red lines represent calculated routes Figure 5: Jackson County Immediate Danger Zones. These danger zones were hand-
for our maps came from Jackson County CSI Emergency based on specified criteria. A Geometric Network was created from the centerline road picked based on overlap of buffer zones and low lying elevation. According to the References & Acknowledgments
shapefile in order to calculate said routes. Black dots represent the shelters that the analysis, Grand Tower possesses the greater risk for a flood in the county.
Database, National Data Seamless Viewer(USGS), 2000 Census safe routes lead to. -Jackson County CSI Emergency Service Database
STATION NAME YEAR MARCH APRIL MAY. JUNE JULY AUGUST
Bureau geographic block groups, The National Oceanic and CARBONDALE SEWAGE PLT 2006 9.24 3.48 4.71 1.4 9.77 2.04
CARBONDALE SEWAGE PLT 2007 1.54 4.04 3.01 5.58 2.22 1.18
Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), National Climate Data CARBONDALE SEWAGE PLT
CARBONDALE SEWAGE PLT
2008
2009
11.76
2.8
7.29
7.02
6.92
8.44
1.62
4.76
5.68
7.16
3.19
6.93
-National Data Seamless Viewer(USGS)
CARBONDALE SEWAGE PLT 2010 5.08 3.29 5.84 3.59 1.69 2.83
Center. The elevation DEM image came from the seamless CARBONDALE SEWAGE PLT
GRAND TWR 2 N
2011
2006
5.34
11.55
14.84
2.2
7.41
4.31
7.93
2.38
0
6.6
0
1.01 -2000 Census Bureau geographic block groups
viewer, population data and tables came from American Figure 6: Jackson County Precipitation Data GRAND TWR 2 N 2007 1.88 2.67 2.12 3.08 2.15 1.58
GRAND TWR 2 N 2008 8.07 6.69 4.83 1.69 5.55 2.18
Table. Only spring and summer months are GRAND TWR 2 N 2009 2.55 4.26 6.7 3 2 3.96
-The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Factfinder, precipitation data came from the NOAA and NCDC, shown. Data were converted into inches for GRAND TWR 2 N
MURPHYSBORO 2 SW
2011
2006
0
8.88
0
2.84
0
3.25
0
2.43
0
7.06
0
1.68
and all Jackson County shapefiles (centerline, hydrology, etc) each station: Carbondale, Murphysboro and MURPHYSBORO 2 SW
MURPHYSBORO 2 SW
2007
2008
2.6
9.75
3.85
1.85
2.57
4.27
0
0
0.93
0
1.54
0
Administration(NOAA)
Grand Tower (see figure 2-3). MURPHYSBORO 2 SW 2009 2.27 6.11 8.29 3.95 5.31 3.75
came from the CSI database. MURPHYSBORO 2 SW
MURPHYSBORO 2 SW
2010
2011
4.55
4.63
2.56
15.04
4.26
7.37
4.69
7.24
1.28
0
3.45
0 -National Climate Data Center