Pandemic Complicates Preparations for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season starts June 1. That’s nothing new for those who live along the Gulf Coast, but what is new this year is the fact hurricane season will happen during the coronavirus pandemic. Evelina Burnett of Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Tegan Wendland of WWNO in New Orleans and WBHM’s Andrew Yeager described how officials in their respective states are preparing.
How Shelters May Change
- Mississippi officials estimate shelters may only hold a third of normal capacity because of social distancing.
- Louisiana emergency leaders have discussed checking temperatures and separating those who may show signs of COVID-19.
- Another concern is that some volunteers are older and could be at higher risk of complications if they are infected.
Challenges for Emergency Responders
- Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency director said they’d normally operate with 125 people in a command center. Instead, they’re figuring out how to best communicate with people working remotely.
- Officials in Louisiana held an exercise with the National Weather Service this week to identify weaknesses. They’re hoping any major storms will come later in the season when presumably the pandemic will have waned somewhat.
How Residents Should Prepare
- Officials recommend taking more time to put together hurricane kits since stores may be out of some supplies.
- They suggest including protective items such as hand sanitizer and masks.
- If evacuating to another family member or friend’s home, check first to make sure he or she is comfortable with it.
This conversation was part of a regional collaboration of public radio stations in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
Bessemer City Council approves rezoning for a massive data center, dividing a community
After the Bessemer City Council voted 5-2 to rezone nearly 700 acres of agricultural land for the “hyperscale” server farm, a dissenting council member said city officials who signed non-disclosure agreements weren’t being transparent with citizens.
Alabama Public Television meeting draws protesters in Birmingham over discussion of disaffiliating from PBS
Some members of the Alabama Educational Television Commission, which oversees APT, said disaffiliation is needed because the network has to cut costs after the Trump administration eliminated all funding for public media this summer.
