Public Shelters

If you elect to go to a public shelter, here are some important items that you will need to remember:

• Shelters are not hotels! They will not be able to provide you with any conveniences or luxuries. Bring your families' disaster survival kit to ensure proper provisions.
• Shelters have a community environment which consists of a large number of people. It is important to be considerate and cooperative and follow the instructions of the shelter management team. Volunteer your services whenever possible.
• Another thing you may experience during your shelter stay is the shortage or rationing of food especially for the first few hours. This will be a temporary condition: you will not starve! Take your disaster survival kit with you. Weapons and liquor are not permitted in shelters.
• Under no circumstances are pets allowed in shelters. The only exceptions are dogs certified to assist the hearing or vision impaired. You need to make other arrangements to ensure your pet's safety and care. There are hotels and motels which accept pets in emergency situations.
• Try to be patient and cheerful about the situation, and your attitude will help the overall morale of the entire group. Rumors can become widespread during a prolonged shelter stay and they are usually very disruptive. Listen only to official information and refuse to pass on another person's speculations.
• When you arrive in the shelter, give your names and address to the shelter manager so that you can be located, if necessary. If you decide to leave the shelter, tell the shelter manager where you are going. You will not be permitted to check into and out of a shelter as if it were a hotel.

Special Needs Registry

• If you, a family member, or a friend are disabled, handicapped, or elderly infirm, and in an emergency would need assistance evacuating to a Special Needs shelter, call your local Emergency Management Department.
• If you, a friend or a loved one require 24 hour skilled medical care, consult with your doctor. Hospitals are not used as shelters, and require preadmission by your doctor, who must demonstrate medical necessity for admission during a hurricane threat.

Shelter Listings

Because of the variation in damage during or after a disaster, it is impossible to project which shelters will be opened in any given disaster. The threat must be evaluated in each case, and a decision made to open specific shelters.  Listen to local media to find out what areas should be evacuated, and what shelters will be opened.

Media Outlets

For the latest official public information, listen only to LOCAL media: (Print this page and write in your local stations call signs during your planning session)

AM RADIO

FM RADIO

TELEVISION