More than half the schools in Hillsborough County wouldn't be suitable to use as shelters during a major hurricane. And, at least on paper, the county's shelters have room for 8,000 people, far less than the potential 122,000 who may seek refuge in a major storm. Those are the findings of an engineering firm hired to check the county's emergency shelters. Larry Gispert, director of emergency management for the county, wouldn't describe the buildings as unsafe. But he acknowledged they failed to meet test criteria for a Category 3 hurricane, meaning they can't withstand sustained winds of 120 mph.
Any fix is probably years off.
The county is applying for federal and state grants to retrofit windows with shutters or other protection that would allow the schools to qualify as emergency shelters. Applications are in for 30 buildings that would add 20,000 shelter spaces. The county officially estimates between 62,000 and 122,000 shelter spaces would be needed during a major hurricane. Gispert said people really don't want to be in crowded, noisy shelters. A better alternative is to go to a friend's house or a hotel outside areas vulnerable to storm surge.