MIAMI (WSVN) - Hurricane season has officially started while COVID-19 continues to spread, and some South Florida experts are explaining what residents can do to protect themselves.
The storm season started on Monday, and this year will be different as potential storms have the possibility of making landfall during a pandemic.
“Every indicator points to above-average, so we gotta be ready,” said National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham.
“Two storms have formed in May,” meteorologist Robert Molleda said. “Before the official start of the season, we had Arthur and Bertha. The forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms. Of those 13 to 19, six of the 10 could become hurricanes, and then of those six to 10, three to six would become major hurricanes.”
Although South Floridians are used to preparing for a storm, now they will have to do so while avoiding contracting COVID-19.
“Due to the current situation, that means we will need to do some more advanced planning,” Molleda said. “We know that South Florida is a hurricane-prone area. That doesn’t change from year to year, regardless of what that outlook is indicating.”
“We have a lot of experience here in Florida, especially over the last four years, but how do we change that? How do we modify it to take COVID-19 and the challenges that it poses?” said Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz.
Experts say preparedness is key because some supplies, such as water, batteries and medications, have already been compromised due to the virus.
“You know, the advantage we have now is we’re talking about this early,” said Graham. “We’re talking about before the storm is headed our way, so it doesn’t have to be an emergency shopping list. You can gradually do it. I’m doing it at home too. We’re gradually building up some of those supplies.”
“It may take a little bit longer to get all those things that we need, so we don’t want to assume that those things will be ready for us when we need them,” Molleda said. “We need to make sure that we have them well ahead of time.”
Those who live in an evacuation zone are familiar that sometimes, the only option is to head to a crowded shelter, typically in a school.
Miami-Dade County leaders have announced that they will be doubling the amount of space inside shelters, allowing room for social distancing.
“The current situation with COVID-19 affects where people may be able to go to if they need to shelter,” Molleda said.
While schools remain closed, local leaders are preparing for a possible storm.
“When they do the summer cleaning of all the classrooms and sanitizing everything, they’re not going to put the desks and chairs back in half of the classrooms,” said Emergency Management Director Frank Rollason.
Broward leaders want residents to know if they have to evacuate, they need to make sure they are prepared with protective gear like face coverings.
“With the COVID precautions, we want to have some extra measures in there,” said Emergency Management Director Tracy Jackson. “We want to have extra cleaning inside a shelter, should we open it. We want to make sure also that we are paying attention to how we feed people in light of the new environment, and so it’s just a few more details on the things that we would normally and typically do that we’re needing to take our time and work through.”
Experts at the National Hurricane Center have even realized there is a new normal for forecasting storms. They said they are prepared and want to make sure residents are as well.
“When we’re here, we’re distancing ourselves,” said Graham. “We’re actually, literally, going to put down some blue tape to make sure we keep some of those distances, but everybody watching has to know we’re going to take those precautions, but you’re going to get those watches and warnings, you’re going to get your forecasts. Our mission is no different than it always is.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has announced a feature inside this year’s hurricane guide to keep citizens and first responders safe.
“You have two door hangers,” Gimenez said. “One says, ‘OK.’ One says, ‘Help,’ and so you should use these door hangers after a storm to alert first responders of any immediate emergency inside of your home.”
South Floridians preparing their hurricane supply kits should remember to include hand sanitizer, disinfectants and face masks.
As of Monday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center has started issuing advisories on Tropical Depression Three in the Gulf of Mexico. The depression is expected to become Tropical Storm Cristobal in the next few days.
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