ORLANDO, Fla. — With hurricane season colliding with a pandemic, preparing for a storm this year is different. But officials said they have strong plans in place to tackle both.
Axel Stock with the University of Central Florida said when prepping for a storm, always keep social distancing in mind.
During the pandemic, several items were low in stock but Stock said he doesn’t expect it to get worse. Although, he said those preparing need to shop around for additional essentials for their hurricane kits.
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“Per family member, you should pack two face cloth coverings in your kit,” he said. “You should also add cleaning materials, disinfectant, soap, wipes, you know, to keep everything clean in your household.”
If a family plans to ride out a storm in an evacuation shelter, Clair Connolly Knox with UCF said “The cots and the family areas are going to be separated into 6 feet, at least apart, believe they’re going to utilize the classrooms a little bit differently whether that’s putting families together into those classrooms and/or people who maybe have already recovered from COVID-19.”
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She said shelters will be doing screenings twice a day. Connolly Knox also said the state provides secured access to hundreds of hotels to avoid overcrowding at shelters. Thus, the fear of COVID-19 should not keep families from evacuating.
Cox Media Group
