With that in mind, emergency planners want people to be prepared this year more than ever because they likely will need to deviate from their typical response if the worst should happen. Make sure you know the latest plans, they urged.
“Our message this hurricane season may be different,” said Erin Sutton, Virginia Beach’s emergency manager. “Maybe it’s not the typical shelters that we’ve been using, or the process to get in is different, or we’re doing things earlier.”
The Atlantic coast hurricane season typically runs between June 1 and Nov. 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will release its official outlook in early May, but Jonathan McGee, a meteorologist at the National Weather Center in Wakefield, said all the indicators are pointing to an above average season.
That’s particularly bad news for Hampton Roads, because “it only takes one storm to ruin your day,” McGee said.
Local officials already are talking through possible issues. A COVID-19 task force in Virginia Beach is coordinating with regional partners in Norfolk and Chesapeake on how the virus could impact temporary shelters in a storm event. They’re also watching how authorities handled shelter operations in Mississippi after a tornado struck earlier this month.
“We’re all grappling with the same issues,” Sutton said.
Keeping people at a distance from one another while sheltering in the safest parts of a building will be one of the biggest challenges. Most cities in Hampton Roads use schools as emergency shelters, with people hunkering down in gyms and cafeterias.
When the winds peak, everyone moves into the hallways, Sutton said.
While Virginia Beach hasn’t had a shelter fill to capacity in the past, it’s a concern now, Sutton said.
“Do we have to open more parts of a school?,” she asked. “We have to make sure we have the space.”
If people are sick, provisions will have to be made to isolate them in an area of the school, and to conduct the necessary cleaning of an area where an infected individual has been after the emergency.
Also, those seeking shelter will be asked to not only bring the usual necessities like sleeping bags, medicine, water, diapers and toys, but also masks.
Coronavirus may be giving some cities a leg up on emergency preparedness, though. In Norfolk, agencies that serve the homeless population in shelters have been coordinating efforts to ensure that safety measures including social distancing are in place. Those same efforts also would be appropriate for a hurricane scenario, according to Jim Redick, director of Norfolk’s Emergency Preparedness and Response.
“Relationships, communications and processes have been solidified throughout this pandemic so our response posture to any threat is strong,” Redick wrote in an email.
Staffing could still be challenging in Virginia Beach. Human services employees currently manage shelters during hurricanes, but those workers are swamped handling an increase in federal food program applications and behavioral health issues in the community, Sutton said.
It’s likely that Hampton Roads cities will rely on each other for resources and staff to keep shelters operating smoothly, she said.
In the age of coronavirus, police and fire department personnel have been taking precautions when responding to emergency calls, and the same will be the case during a hurricane. Sutton said 911 dispatchers are asking extra questions about whether anyone in the house has been exposed to the virus to determine how many responders should enter. When they do enter, expect them to be wearing gloves and masks.
It is always important for people to be prepared for a hurricane, but even more so this year, Sutton said. There are shortages of toilet paper, soap and some food products now. What happens if a hurricane takes aim at Hampton Roads?
Residents already may have some extra items in the pantry if they stocked up under the governor’s stay-at-home order. Generally, it’s recommended to have 72 hours worth of food and water for a family.
"It is a little bit more challenging this time,” Sutton said.
Some people may not be able to go out to shop for supplies or won’t be able to afford to stock up. Sutton recommends buying a little more now without going overboard — an extra can or two of soup or a case of water. That way they won’t need to rush out in the case of an emergency.
Sutton also recommends keeping empty one-gallon water jugs around the house that can be refilled a few days before a storm. Keeping a kit with batteries, flashlights, diapers, formula, pet food and medication is also important.
If the electricity goes out, stress levels will go up. Generators and coolers can help bridge the gap.
To stay informed, Sutton said weather and news apps are usually helpful. She stressed the importance of making sure phones and other devices can be charged during an emergency.
Residents also should have a plan mapped out for evacuating, including a destination and places they will stop along the way. Restaurants may be closed or limiting the number of customers allowed inside.
“Those rules may be lifted by the time we’re dealing with this, but they may not,” Sutton said, urging flexibility. “It’s making sure that we’re not getting so locked into that it’s going to be the same that it always is.”
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
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