The American Meteorological Society, along with several state agencies, have issued their recommendations: People are safer in shelters than staying at home during severe weather.
They do, however, recommend that people bring their own hand sanitized and face masks, maintain proper social distancing, and avoid touching high-contact surfaces like door handles.
Evacuees who fled flooding from Hurricane Hanna in Texas last week were handed masks at the shelter entrance if they didn’t already have one. One of the problems at the Texas shelters was a lack of volunteers to help officials at the shelters.
Ahead of Hawaii’s close call with Hurricane Douglas, officials warned shelter space would be limited due to social distancing.
Officials in major hurricane-prone areas are worried that people won’t heed evacuation warnings. Weather experts and emergency management agencies have said that those who are told to evacuate for any type of severe weather should do so, regardless of the pandemic.
