In the event of an evacuation of the District of Columbia, residents of the Mount Vernon Square / Downtown / Penn Quarter / Chinatown neighborhoods will have several different general evacuation directions, as in the event of an emergency, vehicles will not be permitted to cross Pennsylvania Avenue.

North of Pennsylvania Avenue:

• Georgia Avenue
• Rhode Island Avenue
• 16th Street
• H Street NE to Benning Road

South of Pennsylvania Avenue:

• 9th Street or 3rd Street to Interstate 395
• 14th Street to the 14th Street Bridge
• South Capitol Street
• Constitution Avenue
• Independence Avenue.

Other issues within the neighborhoods of Mount Vernon Square / Downtown / Penn Quarter / Chinatown identified as:

• Flooding as a result of inadequate street drainage
  
• Overgrown trees interfering with overhead lines
  
• Excessive tree roots causing sidewalk disruptions
  
• Urban development’s effect on traffic conditions
  
• Need for better coordination and notification of street closings during special events (convention centers).