Members»General»Community Safety + Emergency Preparedness»Tahoe Donner Evacuation Study

Tahoe Donner Evacuation Study

Tahoe Donner, in partnership with the Town of Truckee, is studying how the community would evacuate during a large-scale emergency, and how to make evacuations safer for everyone.

WHY IS THIS STUDY NEEDED?
Wildfires and other emergencies can happen quickly, and getting people out of the area safely is critical. Truckee’s mountain setting, limited roads in and out, and high wildfire risk can make evacuation difficult, especially during peak visitor season when the population grows.

Tahoe Donner and the Town of Truckee are working now to understand today’s evacuation challenges and plan for improvements.

The study is jointly funded by the Town and Tahoe Donner, and uses both technical data and community input to find ways to improve evacuation safety across Truckee.

 

WHAT WILL THE STUDY DO?
The study will focus on evacuation routes and identify constraints such as traffic congestion, capacity limitations, road bottlenecks and gaps in emergency communication. By the end of the process, the study team will recommend ways to improve safety, traffic flow and emergency readiness for Truckee and Tahoe Donner.

The study is being conducted in coordination with the Truckee Fire Protection District, CAL FIRE, Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and Caltrans.

 

WE WANT YOUR INVOLVEMENT
Community participation is essential. Hearing from full-time residents, second home owners and visitors will ensure that future plans and improvements reflect local knowledge and experience. We especially want to hear from older adults, people with disabilities or medical equipment needs, people without a vehicle, and those whose first language isn’t English, your experience tells us things the data can’t.

Below are a few ways to share your input:

  • Interactive Online Map: Pin your comments on the map to share locations where evacuation could be difficult, either from your own experience, something you’ve observed, or a concern you’ve thought about. https://dks-engage.com/truckee-tda-evacstudy
  • Comment Form: Prefer an accessible text-based form instead of the map? Click here: https://dks-engage.com/comment-form
  • Take the Member Survey: A member-specific survey will be sent to Tahoe Donner members in [DATE — CONFIRM]. Watch your email and the TDA website for details.
  • Talk to us in person: Our team will be attending the following events over the summer.
    • Truckee Farmers Market, Tuesday, June 2 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Truckee Regional River Park
    • Truckee Day, Saturday, June 6 from 12 to 2 p.m. at Truckee Regional River Park
    • Truckee Thursdays, Thursday, June 25 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Downtown Truckee
    • Tahoe Donner Annual Member Meeting + Expo, Sunday, June 28
    • Tahoe Donner Summer Concert on the Green, Saturday, July 4

The online comment map and form is now open, and the Tahoe Donner Member Survey is expected to be sent out in July. Please share your input by then so it can inform draft recommendations.

 

STAY INFORMED
Want to be notified when the draft recommendations are released or when the community town hall is scheduled? Subscribe to project updates here and we’ll email you at key project milestones.

 

PROJECT TIMELINE

May – July 2026 – Community input phase
Online comment map and form open for public input. The project team will be at community events throughout the summer (see above). Technical analysis and evacuation scenario modeling continue at the same time.

August – Early September 2026 – Analysis and draft recommendations
The team reviews community feedback together with technical findings, drafts recommendations, and hosts a community town hall to share what we’ve heard and discuss proposed actions.

September – October 2026 – Final study and recommendations
The final Tahoe Donner evacuation study is completed and delivered to the TDA board.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Is this an evacuation plan? Will it tell me when and where to evacuate?

    No. This study evaluates current evacuation conditions and recommends improvements. During an actual emergency, decisions about when and where to evacuate are made in real time by emergency managers and law enforcement. This study does not replace the alert and notification systems you should already be signed up for. To receive real-time emergency notifications:

    • Ready Truckee – Town of Truckee Emergency Alerts
    • Nevada County Alerts – Register for Nevada County Alerts
  • Will my comment be visible to other people?

    Comments you post on the map are visible to other people, so the whole community can see what concerns have been shared. Comments sent through the text-based form go directly to the project team and are not posted publicly. Personal information is not displayed on the public map.

  • Will the study result in new evacuation routes or road improvements?

    The study will recommend top priority actions. These may include road improvements, changes to how things operate, better communication or new policies. Actual construction projects would need more planning, design, environmental review and funding beyond what this study covers.

  • How would improvements be funded?

    Funding depends on what is recommended and which agency is responsible. Improvements within Tahoe Donner could involve a mix of TDA, town, county, state and grant funding. The study identifies options; decisions about how to fund any TDA-specific improvements would be made by the TDA Board.

  • What happens after the study is done?

    Recommendations go to the Town and TDA for review and prioritization. Some changes, like improvements to communication or signage, can move quickly. Others, like infrastructure or policy changes, take longer and involve other agencies.

  • What happens if a fire or other emergency occurs during the study?

    Emergency response continues to work normally throughout the study. This study does not change how emergencies are handled today. It looks at how things work now and recommends improvements for the future.

  • Who is conducting the study?

    The study is being conducted by DKS Associates and partner firms on behalf of the Town of Truckee and Tahoe Donner Association, with input from regional emergency response and transportation agencies.

  • Are materials available in Spanish or other languages?

    Spanish-language materials are available digitally and at in-person community events. If you need information in another format or language, please contact us.

  • How can I get more information or ask a question?

    Email jhajduk@tahoedonner.com, or visit us at one of the community events listed above.