Populations and media throughout the region keenly followed the exercise, which also allowed for an evaluation of evacuation plans and the role of the private sector in the case of a catastrophe.

UNESCO: EDUCATION

An estimated three million people evacuated from the metropolitan Houston region before the hurricane struck, but stalled cars without gas nearly brought the evacuation to a standstill.

NPR: Gas Shortages Stalled Houston Evacuation

The governor of the region at the centre of Japan's nuclear crisis has criticised official handling of the evacuation of the area around the stricken Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

BBC: Japan earthquake: Anger over Fukushima evacuation plan