Emergency centers plan ahead as potential storm develops

Collier County Emergency Management says even though there's no imminent hurricane threat to Southwest Florida as of now, plan ahead, keeping the pandemic in mind.

MORE ON THE POTENTIAL TROPICALCYCLONE THAT MAY BE TAKING SHAPEIN THE ATLANTIC IN JUST A FEWMINUTES ... BUT IN THE MEANTIME..

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUHAVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED NO MATTERWHAT THIS STORM SEASON SENDS OURWAY.

RACHEL LOYD WITH SOMETHINGS TO KEEP IN MIND ..RACHEL?:20 - :26(LLINTRO)ALONG WITH A WATERSUPPLYGENERATOR ANDNON-PERISHABLE FOODEMERGENCYLEADERS SAY MAKE SURE YOU HAVEENOUGH HAND SANITIZER ANDDISINFECTANT WIPES TOO.THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTERTWEETED A WARNING ABOUT APOSSIBLE TROPICAL STORM THISMORNING.

IT’S TOO EARLY TO TELLBUT THIS MODEL SHOWS THEPOTENTIAL STORM COULD WEAKEN BYTHE TIME IT GETS TO FLORIDA.Come Saturday or Sunday we’regoing to be in for some lessthan desirable weather for sure.COLLIER COUNTY EMERGENCYMANAGEMENT DIRECTOR DAN SUMMERSSAYS EVEN THOUGH THIS ISN’TPROJECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANEYET, NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPAREAND INCORPORATE COVID-19 SAFETY.You’re adding social distancing.You’re adding your PPE.

You’readding your hand sanitizer.SO I CALLED AROUND TO SEE WHATSANITARY SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE.NatsA WALMART RECORDING SAYS THEYCAN’T CONFIRM WHAT THEY HAVE.Due to a large demand inproducts, associates are unableto confirm product availabilityat this time.THEIR WEBSITE SHOWS THE CAPECORAL LOCATION HAS HURRICANESUPPLIES IN STOCK LIKEGENERATORSBATTERIESAND WATER.BUT BULK CLOROX WIPES ARE OUT OFSTOCKSUMMERS SAYS THEY’LLPROVIDE PPE TO PEOPLE IN THEIRSHELTERS IF THERE’S A HURRICANE.We want to keep that exposure orthat potential for exposure inthese hurricane shelters as lowas we possibly can.AND THEY’RE CUTTING SHELTERCAPACITY BY HALF.

THEY’RE GOINGFROM ALLOWING 20,000 PEOPLE INTO 10,000 TO ALLOW FOR SOCIALDISTANCING.

SUMMERS SAYS USETHIS TIME TO PREPARE.There’s no cause that this is abig storm for Southwest Floridayet by any stretch of theimagination.

But we just don’twant to discount the fac