Hurricane Safety During a Pandemic

The good news is Tropical Storm Marco fell apart before it could become a hurricane and hit the U.S. The bad news is that it set the stage for the arrival of Tropical Storm Laura to hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane with winds topping 110 mph.

As businesses and homeowners along the coast of Texas to Alabama prepare their buildings for the effects of the two-storm combination, some may need to prepare to evacuate if Laura becomes the first large hurricane to hit the U.S. this season. They should follow these tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stay safe while sheltering:

• Prepare a “go kit” with personal items you cannot do without during an emergency. Include items that can help protect you and others from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, bar or liquid soap, disinfectant wipes (if available), and two masks for each person.
• Know a safe place to shelter and have several ways to receive weather alerts, such as National Weather Service (NWS) cell phone alerts, National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) Weather Radio, or (@NWS) Twitter alerts.
• Find out if your local public shelter is open. Your shelter location may be different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you need to go to a disaster shelter, follow CDC recommendations for staying safe and healthy in a public disaster shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet from other people outside of your household.
• Wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and follow shelter policies for wearing masks. Avoid sharing food and drink with anyone if possible.
• Follow disaster shelter policies and procedures designed to protect everyone in the shelter, especially those who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
• Avoid touching high-touch surfaces, such as handrails, as much as possible. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer immediately after you touch these surfaces.
• If you feel sick when you arrive at the shelter or start to feel sick while sheltering, tell shelter staff immediately.