Hurricane season is upon us. Everyone must be prepared to handle hurricane emergencies, including people experiencing homelessness and those who serve them. Fortunately, Pinellas County Health and Human Services (PCHHS) officials, in collaboration with a number of public and private agencies, have developed a plan to protect our county’s most vulnerable citizens—street homeless people.

Hurricane Preparations for the Homeless

OUTREACH TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS: THE HOMELESS POPULATION

During a hurricane, the care for Pinellas County’s most vulnerable residents, the homeless, becomes the charge of a highly-organized effort led by the Department of Health and Human Services (PCHHS). When a hurricane is predicted to impact Pinellas County, a well thought-out plan, developed by a community group of government and homeless service providers, is initiated. An aggressive communications outreach effort is then undertaken to help those who live on the streets, in the woods and all other areas where the homeless seek refuge.

COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH

Communications is the first stage of getting the word out about a pending hurricane. On-the-street outreach teams take to the road distributing flyers, posters and brightly-colored “hurricane is coming” cards among soup kitchens, shelters and downtown parks. Agencies that serve the homeless are contacted and law enforcement officers will perform drive-by announcements of directions via loud speakers –all in a collaborative effort to direct the homeless to transportation to shelters. Every effort is made to reach every segment of the homeless population, including aging veterans, the deaf, blind and physically-impaired.

The communications outreach and evacuation of the homeless during a hurricane is a combined effort of numerous agencies, the Homeless Coalition, law enforcement officials, city and county departments, as well as community faith-based groups and human services providers. These include: 211 Tampa Bay Cares; Catholic Charities; City of Pinellas Park; City of St. Petersburg; Directions for Mental Health; FLASH; Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services; Operation PAR; Pinellas County Health Department; Pinellas Coalition for the Homeless; Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department; Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health; Windmoor Hospital; and WorkNet Pinellas.

TRANSPORTATION

A convoy of transportation vehicles, including buses and specialty-equipped disabled transports, are reserved for pick-up from five predetermined pick-up points to homeless friendly evacuation shelters when a hurricane warning is announced and a mandatory evacuation order is issued.

HOMELESS-FRIENDLY SHELTERS

Homeless residents can evacuate to any open shelter, but the PCHHS, in collaboration with the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless (PCCH) and the Emergency Operation Center (EOC), has designated several evacuation shelters as homeless friendly. At these “homeless friendly” shelters, county-staffed support workers are available to counsel the homeless citizens, offer comfort and support, and advice on services available following the hurricane. All guests receive a blanket, pillow and hygiene kit as well as meals.

Level A Evacuation:

Northside Baptist Church-St. Petersburg

Ross Norton Aquatic/Recreation Center-Clearwater

Level B & C Evacuation:

St. Petersburg High School-St. Petersburg

Largo High School-Largo

Kennedy Middle School-Clearwater

OTHER RESOURCES

http://www.pinellascounty.org/newsletters/e-lert/images/July_2008/Hurricane_&_Safety_News.pdf

homeless hurricane_card_07.pdf

homeless hurricane_flyerS.pdf

homeless hurricaneflyerE.pdf