Hurricanes don’t care if there’s a global pandemic causing chaos and disorder. No virus could slow down a storm brewing in the Atlantic Ocean. Like every hurricane season, Florida could see destructive tropical storms and hurricanes from now until November regardless of another possible wave of COVID-19 infections.
Locals are familiar with standard hurricane preparations after enduring storms throughout the years. But preparing for a hurricane during a pandemic is a new reality all South Floridians are facing.
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Here’s what to expect as you begin planning for a hurricane:
- Try to prepare ahead of time by gathering emergency food, water, and medical supplies. Delivery services are still a prime option for purchasing and acquiring essential goods while staying home.
- Make sure you have a way to access any prescription medications you might need before the hurricane makes landfall. Excessive debris or flooding could affect how you obtain refills.
- The advises people to bring sanitizer, soap, and at least two face coverings for each person to prevent contracting COVID-19 at a shelter. It also states people should continue washing their hands and covering their faces when they return to their homes and while cleaning up debris.
- One main concern South Florida leaders are confronting is how to provide shelters while dealing with an easily-transmissible virus. Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties are still making plans on what shelters and evacuation centers could like in the event of a hurricane. County officials have suggested testing people before they enter a shelter.
- The four counties might designate non-congregate and congregate shelters that would separate those infected with COVID-19 from those who aren’t sick.
- Miami-Dade County plans to open more shelters that will provide more space for people to accommodate social distancing guidelines, according to the . The county is looking into hotels in the north and west regions of Miami-Dade to arrange evacuation centers.
​This post will be updated as more details become available.