ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – One of the crucial essential issues to know is the place you’ll go when a storm hits, and Pinellas County staff are going via their ultimate coaching on the best way to run shelters as hurricane season begins on Sunday.
“We had round 1,700 individuals for Hurricane Helene and near 14,000 for Hurricane Milton,” mentioned Adam Pedzich, the response and restoration supervisor for Pinellas County authorities.
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These Pinellas County residents got here to shelters after they wanted a protected place to remain in the course of the storm for themselves and their pets. This hurricane season, county staff are coaching workers to verify they’re able to do it once more.
“We do 10 trainings to this point this yr the place we carry within the workers, and it’s the whole lot from the executive paperwork to the best way to arrange a shelter to the best way to register somebody,” mentioned Pedzich.
Pedzich introduced data on what staff have to know, particularly having activated 4 occasions in three years, from Ian to Idalia, Helene and Milton.
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“It’s traumatic for our workers. It’s traumatic for the residents. That’s one of many issues we educate is simply type of that psychological well being element,” mentioned Pedzich. “We may also help deescalate conditions, so we don’t need to get regulation enforcement. Typically individuals simply want any person to speak to.”
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About 100 county workers members work with county college workers, police, fireplace and cafeteria staff to maintain the evacuation shelters operating at native faculties.
“Even after these shelters shut, particularly final yr, individuals nonetheless want a spot to go. Perhaps their home was broken. So then, we might transfer to a recreation heart or a church in collaboration with a few of our different companions to maintain that shelter ongoing after we’re out of the colleges,” Pedzich mentioned.
Hopefully, Pinellas received’t need to situation any evacuations and open shelters. But when the time comes, county staff are prepared.
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“Typically, even should you’re not in an evacuation order, it could be a good suggestion so that you can come to a shelter. Simply have your plan in place and know the place you’re going to go,” mentioned Pedzich.
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Pinellas County officers mentioned they at all times have a common inhabitants, pet-friendly and particular wants shelters out there for residents. They’ve a free hurricane expo on Saturday, Might 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Willis S. Johns Recreation Middle in St. Petersburg.
The Supply: The knowledge on this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Briona Arradondo.Â
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