Officials from across the region gathered on June 24 at the Gloucester Moose Lodge to discuss in detail how this area would be impacted by a mass evacuation of Hampton Roads cities.

Gloucester’s emergency services coordinator Creig Moore said the purpose of the meeting was to gather nearby localities such as Mathews and Middlesex together to discuss how a regional evacuation would best be implemented.

The exercise was a result of a Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant, which identified several major gaps the Hampton Roads region had in planning for emergency situations.

Moore said a gap that was identified where Gloucester, Mathews and Middlesex residents and businesses may not be adequately prepared for Route 17 to be used as a major evacuation route for residents of the Peninsula and Southside Virginia.

He said the major evacuation route for the Hampton Roads cities is Interstate 64, which he said is “built on a cul-de-sac … There’s only one way out.&rdqu...