Duval County

City of Jacksonville prepares for hurricane season during pandemic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As Tropical Storm Isaias moves towards Florida, Jacksonville explains how to prepare at home.

“Even if we don’t have an impact from this storm, which we’ll know whether or not in the days ahead, this is a good time and a good reminder we are in hurricane season and we should all be prepared,” Mayor Lenny Curry said during a news conference Thursday.

The City created a Preparedness and Response Guide to the 2020 Hurricane season. This guide includes how to create a plan, alert systems, basic first aid and COVID-19 prevention, shelters and resources.

The emergency supply kit will be different this year because of the pandemic. In addition to non-perishable food items, batters, and important papers, the City is asking you to pack face masks, hand sanitizers and cleaning products.

Find your residential zone in the guide. It will determine who evacuates first.

The City has identified 29 shelters so far. The Director of the Emergency Operation Center, Steve Woodard, said each shelter should have enough space to allow for social distancing.

“We’ve been working very closely with the American Red Cross and with the CDC to determine how best to serve those communities as we have COVID-19 and can do that with the shelters,” Woodard said.

The City is requiring health checks at shelters. Each location is subject to quarantine by public health officials.

Find the full guide here: https://www.jaxready.com/Preparedness/docs/2020-Web-EPG.aspx