Hurricane shelters will have limited capacity due to COVID-19 – WESH 2 Orlando

EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ARE STARTING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO START GETTING READY FOR IT NOW. BUT AS WESH 2S MEGAN MELLADO REPORTS, THEY SAY PREPARATIONS WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. MEGAN: THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR THIS UPCOMING HURRICANE SEASON HAS TO DO WITH SHELTERS. MANY OF THE SHELTERS IN OSCEOLA COUNTY USUALLY ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE, BUT WITH CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS IN MIND, EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ARE LIMITING THAT NUMBER TO 50. >> WERE ENCOURAGING OUR RESIDENTS THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS, TO, IF YOU CAN, AND YOURE IN A SITE-STRUCTURED BUILT HOME, TO SHELTER IN PLACE AT YOUR HOME. IF YOU CANT DO THAT, THEN WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY IN THE AREA TO RIDE OUT THE STORM. MEGAN: PEOPLE WHO FALL INTO THESE THREE CATEGORIES WILL TAKE PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO SHELTERS -- FIRST, IF YOU LIVE IN A MANUFACTURED HOME, LIKE A MOBILE HOME OR RV, SECOND, IF YOU LIVE IN A LOW-LYING OR FLOODPLAIN AREA, AND THIRD, IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS OR REQUIRE MEDICAL CARE DUTCH MEDICAL CARE. THE SHELTERS WILL REQUIRE SCREENING AND TEMPERATURE CHECKS. >> WERE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ISOLATION CENTERS. IF WE HAVE A SICK PERSON, ITLL BE TO MOVE THEM FROM THE POPULATION, ESPECIALLY IF THERES WINDS UP AND ITS A HURRICANE OUTSIDE, WE CANT MOVE THEM AT THAT POINT IN TIME. MEGAN: OSCEOLA COUNTY IS WORKING ON FINALIZING EXACT LOCATIONS AND PLANS. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY SAY NOW IS THE TIME FOR RESIDENTS TO PLAN AHEAD, BUILD A KIT,

Hurricane shelters will have limited capacity due to COVID-19

Many of the hurricane shelters in Osceola County usually accommodate about 200 to 300 people, but with COVID-19 concerns in mind, emergency officials are limiting that number to 50.

Updated: 6:21 PM EDT May 22, 2020

Many of the hurricane shelters in Osceola County usually accommodate about 200 to 300 people, but with COVID-19 concerns in mind, emergency officials are limiting that number to 50.Were encouraging our residents this year, because of COVID and the impact it will have on our emergency shelters, to if you can, and youre in a site-structured built home, to shelter in place at your home. If you cant do that, then we encourage you to go with friends or family in the area to ride out the storm, Emergency Management Director, Bill Litton, said.People who fall into these three categories will take priority when it comes to shelters:-Those who live in manufactured homes, like mobile homes or RVs-Those who live in low-lying or flood prone areas-Those who have special needs or require medical careThe shelters will require screening and temperature checks. They'll also have isolation areas if someone tests positive for COVID-19.Were going to have to have isolation centers. If we have a sick person, itll be to move them from the population especially if theres winds up and its a hurricane outside, we cant move them at that point in time.Osceola County is working on finalizing exact locations and plans In the meantime, they say NOW is the time for residents to plan ahead, build a kit, stay informed, and take action.

Many of the hurricane shelters in Osceola County usually accommodate about 200 to 300 people, but with COVID-19 concerns in mind, emergency officials are limiting that number to 50.

Were encouraging our residents this year, because of COVID and the impact it will have on our emergency shelters, to if you can, and youre in a site-structured built home, to shelter in place at your home. If you cant do that, then we encourage you to go with friends or family in the area to ride out the storm, Emergency Management Director, Bill Litton, said.

People who fall into these three categories will take priority when it comes to shelters:

-Those who live in manufactured homes, like mobile homes or RVs

-Those who live in low-lying or flood prone areas

-Those who have special needs or require medical care

The shelters will require screening and temperature checks. They'll also have isolation areas if someone tests positive for COVID-19.

Were going to have to have isolation centers. If we have a sick person, itll be to move them from the population especially if theres winds up and its a hurricane outside, we cant move them at that point in time.

Osceola County is working on finalizing exact locations and plans In the meantime, they say NOW is the time for residents to plan ahead, build a kit, stay informed, and take action.

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Hurricane shelters will have limited capacity due to COVID-19 - WESH 2 Orlando