What the order means is that emergency officials won t go back into those areas and retrieve people if they choose to stay there and ride out the storm. Those who leave can move in with friends in safer houses on the mainland or go to the county s shelters. There are 11 primary shelters in schools, as well as secondary shelters, such as church buildings, that altogether can house up to 22,000 people, Hagberg said. Putting all those people in shelters could mean each person might only have a bed-sized space with little privacy for days during a severe storm. People who choose to travel out of town should do so early and well before a hurricane strikes.
Highways can quickly get jammed when everyone is certain a hurricane is coming.
People and pets can t be kept together in the confined spaces when winds are too high for pets to be let outside. The Red Cross has the names of a few people in Indian River County who are willing to take in horses and large dogs. Otherwise, call the Humane Society. Society Executive Director Joan Carlson said her agency doesn t have space to house all the pets. She advises planning ahead of time.