Full Notification

Having a plan for where you will go during a hurricane evacuation is crucial, and we understand this hurricane season is vastly different than any year before. While staying with friends, family, or a hotel far inland is the preferred option; some citizens may need to utilize the emergency shelter options. 
 
For those citizens who may need to utilize the shelter option if a hurricane does imact the area, we want to keep you informed of changes to operations to keep everyone safe in light of COVID-19.
 
Upon arrival at a shelter, you will be asked pre-screening questions for COVID-19, and your body temperature will be taken. Those who are cleared will be admitted into the general population portion of the shelter with minimum daily health screenings. Those who have an elevated body temperature or answser yes to screening questions in the reception area, will be moved to an isolation area within the shelter.  Those evacuees who self identify as COVID positive will be isolated and transferred to a non-congregate shelter facility.
 
All facilities within the shelter will be cleaned frequently. Medical support will be available. Personal Protective Equiptment will be provided in limited quanities. Social distancing at all times will be essential. Due to safety issues, cots and other amenities may not be available at all locations until after the storm conditions subside.
 
Our goal with shelters is provide temporary refuge from the life threatening conditions, when other alternatives are not available. Our focus is to keep everyone safe from the hazards outside of the shelter, and now preventing virus spread within a co-located shelter. Undoubtedly, prevention of community spread is critical. Everyone’s assistance is important to the success in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
 
Once the storm has passed, it will be the intent to transition those still needing extended sheltering into non-congregate shelter options, such as hotels.