Cristobal resources stretched thin due to COVID-19, George Floyd protests, MS leaders say
With Tropical Storm Cristobal looming in the Gulf of Mexico, resources like the Red Cross and help from Mississippi National Guard could be sparse because of other events happening across the U.S., state leaders said Friday.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and MEMA director Gregory Michel said that this summer brings a unique challenge as the region appears on its way to enduring a busy hurricane season in the middle of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Michel and Reeves met with local emergency management officials on the Coast Friday to address coordination efforts with local officials and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
COVID-19 remains active throughout the state and the Mississippi National Guard is stretched thin due to its pandemic response and multiple deployments, including one to contend with protests over racial injustice in Washington D.C. and one other state.
“The biggest challenge is the unknown,” Reeves said of battling hurricane season during the middle of a pandemic. “Every single day brings a new challenge.”
The National Hurricane Center in Miami sent out an updated forecast Friday afternoon that showed the center of the storm tracking slightly west of the Mississippi state line.
Cristobal, a storm that formed in the first week of hurricane season, is expected to make landfall in Southeast Louisiana early Monday morning. A storm surge watch is in effect for Indian Pass to Aripeka, Florida, and from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs.
“It appears that we will have a very large and a very wet rain event, but we all know that can change in a moment’s notice.” Reeves said.
Changes at hurricane shelters
If the storm intensifies on its way to the northern Gulf of Mexico, the need for shelters on the Coast will increase, and operations will look different than they have been in the past.
”There’s no question that the coronavirus complicates the opening of shelters, but we have made the decision in Mississippi that we have to open shelters,” Reeves said. “We have to protect life and property first and foremost.”
Michel said that the Centers for Disease Control has suggested social distancing guidelines of 60 square feet of space and 110 square feet for overnight sleeping in shelters.
“If you do the math on that, you’re not going to get a lot of people in shelters,” he said.
Michel said emergency managers will have to use coronavirus guidelines as a planning factor but won’t turn anyone away who needs a place to stay.
Each person who enters a shelter will be required to wear a mask, which the state will provide, and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Workers will also be in protective gear.
Red Cross scales back
Red Cross has historically helped staffing at Mississippi shelters during times of needed, including help with meals, Reeves said, but COVID-19 has limited the help they can provide right now.
“We’ve got a number of faith-based organizations and non-profits to help with feeding,” Michel said. “Food is going to be another thing. You probably won’t see hot meals until later in the cycle. We’ll have shelf-ready meals there to eat.”
Michel said the state will rely on the Mississippi Department of Human Services and several other agencies to fill the gaps.
“In the past, we’ve not had to tap too deep into that,” he said. “The Red Cross has worked to man those shelters. Things may be a little different with resources not as robust. We’ll be potentially tapping into those other entities and we’ve got disaster reservists to help.”
Reeves said that part of the reason the Red Cross is unable to provide as many volunteers is that many of them are older and are unable to work during the pandemic.
“We have Mississippi National Guardsman deployed to at least one state and the District of Columbia,” he said. “In addition to that, we have a large number of National Guard that are currently deployed in the fight against COVID-19. Our resources are not as robust as they would be in a normal season because they are spread out in a number of different ways. Still, Mississippians are ready to step up and do what is necessary.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 5:02 PM.
