Hurricane Isaias Could be First Test of Florida's Coronavirus Hurricane Plans

Officials in Florida are preparing for possible impacts from Hurricane Isaias at the same time the state is dealing with one of the worst outbreaks of coronavirus in the world.

Counties across the state have altered their hurricane protocols in the wake of the pandemic. More space in shelters, enacting plans earlier and adjustments to evacuation zones are among the new standards.

Isaias could be the first test of those plans.

“The biggest change obviously is we have to maintain social distancing, we have to have additional protective measures, in any kind of sheltering that we do," Pinellas County Emergency Management Director Cathie Perkins told weather.com Wednesday.

In a major storm, some 600,000 people could fall under evacuation orders in Pinellas, most of which is located on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by water from the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. Modifying who evacuates when is one option the county is considering to relieve concerns about overcrowding and other stressors.

“We may make changes to evacuation zones because we want to try and minimize the number of people we evacuate for each event," Perkins said.

(FORECAST: The Latest on Hurricane Isaias)

Counties are ready to stand up COVID compliant shelters if necessary, with social distancing, regular cleaning and other measures in place.

“If we do need to open shelters for this event, or in the future of the hurricane season, we’re following the CDC guidelines within the shelters," Miguel Hidalgo, an emergency management specialist with Broward County, said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Florida has reported more than 450,000 cases of COVID-19, the second highest number in the U.S. and more than all but five entire countries worldwide, according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University. About one fourth of those are in Miami-Dade, the state's largest county and one of its most vulnerable to hurricanes.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said his county, like many others, is changing the way emergency staff respond to storms. More work will be done virtually rather than in large groups piled into local Emergency Operations Centers.

The county has room for 100,000 evacuees in shelters, he added.

(MORE: In the Era of Coronavirus and Social Distancing, Is It Safe To Go To A Hurricane Shelter?)

In an extreme scenario, like that of Hurricane Irma in 2017 when an unprecedented number of people filled shelters, evacuees could receive vouchers for hotel stays under a state plan that at least 400 hotels have signed on for.

Officials say shelters should always be considered the option of last resort, and evacuees are normally advised to pay for their own hotel rooms or other lodging, or stay with friends or relatives. Even then, there are risks.

“If you’re going to be sheltering with someone that you don’t normally live with you should have masks and make sure you are wiping down the surfaces and have hand sanitizer," Perkins said.

The potential of a storm hitting Florida this weekend should serve as a wakeup call to get ready for the rest of hurricane season, which typically peaks between August and October.

“It’s a really strong reminder of how important it is to have your preparations in place," Hidalgo said.

Coronavirus or not, officials say the bottom line remains the same when it comes to hurricane season. Everyone should know their risk, have a supply kit and have an evacuation plan.

“It’s not a time to panic," Perkins said. "It’s just a time to remain vigilant and be aware."

For the latest coronavirus information in your county and a full list of important resources to help you make the smartest decisions regarding the disease, check out our dedicated COVID-19 page.

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