Will COVID-19 fears stop you from hurricane evacuation? In Florida, 2 out of 5 say yes
Coronavirus is no longer keeping South Floridians at home. But that might change if or when a hurricane threatens the state.
A new survey by AAA shows that two out of five people — 42 percent — surveyed in Florida say fear of being exposed to COVID-19 makes them less likely to evacuate under a hurricane warning.
Not only that: More than a quarter of Florida residents say they would refuse to leave their homes if they were told to evacuate.
AAA’s annual hurricane season survey also reports that 31 percent of Floridians are more worried than ever about the 2020 hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Their anxiety is justified: The state is already making plans for possible evacuations as the pandemic continues and considering how to maintain social distance in traditionally crowded shelters.
NOAA has already predicted an above-average hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms and six to 10 hurricanes, with three to six of them major. The earliest third named storm on record, Tropical Storm Cristobal, has formed in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The coronavirus just complicates matters even more for those preparing for what is forecast to be an active hurricane season,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group, in a press release. “AAA urges families to develop an emergency plan now. Your plan should include several evacuation destinations, in case a shelter or hotel is closed due to the pandemic.”
The good news, if you can call it that, is this: Out of the people who say they would evacuate, 80 percent say they would leave for a Category 2 storm or greater.
Still, AAA reports that more than half of Florida residents say they don’t have an emergency plan and recommends homeowners secure their yards and homes, take inventory, stock emergency supplies, identify a safe room and buy supplies during Florida’s hurricane sales tax holiday, which runs through June 4. It also suggests consulting FloridaDisaster.org for evacuation paths.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 1:41 PM.