During a major event like a hurricane or a terrorism attack in the region, Route 17 through the Middle Peninsula will be an important evacuation route, regional emergency planner Harrison Bresee told the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission on Dec. 16.

Bresee reported during the meeting in the commission boardroom at Saluda that he hopes to have a draft of an evacuation plan available for review by emergency officials in this area by next spring.

“We are trying to identify gaps to be filled,” Bresee said of taking an inventory of available resources. For example, he is assembling a list of all places where motorists trying to flee along Route 17 can find shelter, gasoline or food.

Bresee said few fueling stations in this region have backup generators. One exception is Phillips Energy at Hayes, which also sells an assortment of alternative fuels. Generators will help stations keep running, Bresee said, because no electrical power means no pumping of fuels. Perhap...