The Florida Highway Patrol, Florida National Guard, and Department of Transportation participated in a mock hurricane evacuation drill on Saturday, August 17, 2002. A reverse lane exercise was conducted along the Interstate 4 corridor beginning in Hillsborough County and extending into Osceola County. Troopers and Guardsmen were stationed at various exits along Interstate 4 simulating coordination and control of traffic flow. Members of the Department of Transportation provided traffic cones and portable electronic message signs for the exercise.

Reverse-laning of a major interstate would only be used prior to a category four or five hurricane (with maximum sustained winds in excess of 130 miles per hour) making landfall.

The exercise commenced at 8:30 a.m. with the first trooper arriving on location at 8:35 a.m. Major Tom Knight, Troop C Commander, and Major Cyrus Brown, Troop D Commander, reported that the goals of the exercise were met and considered the operation successful.

Shown in the photo above stationed at Post # 1 are from left to right, Guardsman Private 2nd Class Jacob Decker, Staff Sergeant Luis Vega, Trooper Tim Bailey, and Trooper Jesus Lopez.