FEMA and CDC on Preparing for Hurricane Season during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Both FEMA and the CDC have published guidelines on preparing for hurricane season given actions that have been taken and guidance disseminated for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The FEMA guidelines, which contain similar advice provided in advance of any hurricane season, also stress the importance of checking the status of local evacuation shelters (some have been closed due to COVID-19) and following the CDC’s guidance if going to a shelter, such as by using face coverings, maintaining social distancing with non-family members, and being prepared with cleaning and disinfection supplies. There’s also a blog on hurricane season preparedness by FEMA Acting Deputy Administrator of Resilience Carlos Castillo. The CDC has its own “Going to a Public Disaster Shelter During the COVID-19 Pandemic” webpage. It also has a general “Preparing for Hurricanes & COVID-19” webpage, which contains similar guidelines to those offered by the FEMA, such as staying informed about potential emergency situations and gathering supplies and preparing “go kits.” It also notes that dealing with disasters can cause stress and strong emotions, which can be exacerbated by the existing situation with the  COVID-19 pandemic. For these situations, it offers tips and resources for coping with the stress.