With the District already in one of the nation’s worst cities for traffic gridlock, staying put may be the best course of action during a disaster, according to the D.C. Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency.

“It is imperative to educate the public about staying in place in shelters as an alternative,” District Department of Transportation Director Terry Bellamy testified Thursday morning at a D.C. Council hearing on emergency preparedness. The hearing addressed the city’s plan of action during emergencies such as the recent earthquake, hurricane and last winter’s snowstorm.