Their list of disasters was daunting: another terrorist attack, perhaps a dirty bomb that would require evacuation, or an assault on the subways.
Emergency management officials in the area point out that the new link would speed evacuation of the Outer Banks in the event of a hurricane.
County officials have said they feared causing a broad panic that would gridlock evacuation routes.
Mr. Katz, a former member of the California Assembly, said he feared that the turnstiles would impede evacuations in emergencies.
Some visitors may not even be staying in would-be evacuation zones.
"[Trump] just refounded ISIS, because they've got 30,000 men there, and they're already striking back with our would-be evacuation.
The grandstands have a safety area under them; in case of a fire, spectators can be evacuated to these areas where they would remain until evacuation is safe.
"Any sort of reasoned evacuation would probably not be possible at all, because everyone would run like hell".
Maritime evacuation would play to Auckland's geographic strength: its double harbour access, and would likely ease congestion on available motorways.
The move seemed intended to make amends in case another evacuation would be ordered.
