Hillsborough Prepares Evacuation Shelters With Virus Protocols

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County’s hurricane evacuation shelters will be ready to offer a haven to residents even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Emergency officials assured Hillsborough County commissioners that hurricane preparations are in place during Thursday's weekly meeting on the coronavirus pandemic.

Public shelters should be considered a last resort over other options such as staying with family or friends. But for residents who don’t have alternatives, county staff have been working for some time on plans to mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus on shelter operations, Emergency Management Director Tim Dudley told commissioners.

If it becomes necessary to issue evacuation orders this storm season, plans include opening more shelters to decrease building occupancy and provide space for social distancing. New standards include screening shelter occupants daily, requiring everyone over the age of 5 to wear face coverings, routine cleaning of common areas and touchpoints, separate areas for individuals who screen as high risk for the virus or who need to be placed in isolation, and barriers between patients in special needs shelters.

Evacuees presenting as positive for the coronavirus will be referred to non-congregate shelters operated by the state.

Residents should pack extra face coverings, hand soap and hand sanitizer in their disaster preparedness kits, whether staying at home or evacuating.

Though the presentation on shelter operations had previously been scheduled, Thursday's report was especially timely with the overnight development of Tropical Storm Laura.

It’s still too early to tell what impact, if any, the fast-moving system will have on Hillsborough County. However, Dudley urged residents to closely monitor weather reports, review preparedness plans and hurricane kit supplies, visit the county StaySafe website for updated information, and register to receive emergency notifications through HCFLAlert.