DeLand, FL - After more than two months of dealing with the effects of the coronavirus, now we have to get ready for hurricane season, which begins one week from today.
Volusia County Emergency Management Director Jim Judge has been pretty busy since the middle of March. Now, he turns to making sure that hurricane shelters are CDC compliant. He says that shelters are a last resort and if you’re going to use one, you need to be prepared with your own supplies. "We do ask folks, especially to a general shelter, make sure you bring what you are going to need. Something to sleep on, hygiene items, some hand sanitizer would be good. We'll have supplies but if the public helps us help them, then we can make the supplies last."
Judge says public preparation makes a difference and people will be checked healthwise before being allowed entry to a shelter. " You know we're all in this COVID-19 together. We're in hurricane season together. You know, the more that public does their planning and preparedness, it's just easier all the way around. We do and will do temperature checks. regular hand-washing and masks will be required"
You should make your checklist for preparedness supplies because Judge says the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday. "Friday, May 29 through Thursday, June 4 you get tax free items on batteries, flashlights, battery-operated lanterns, weather alert radios. They will have a list of what you can buy and what quantity. If you do your family planning and you put your preparedness kits together, you're going to be ready."
