Nine new hurricane shelters opened this month across the Leonida Keys and Grassrivers, adding room for 11,400 people in the two regions that are hardest to evacuate. Each one is built to withstand winds of 180 mph.
All nine shelters accept pets, in a separate wing with crates and a veterinary corner. In past seasons, many families refused to leave because they could not bring their animals; officials say that is no longer a reason to stay behind.
A shelter is only useful if people are willing to go. So we built the shelters people asked for: close to home, with power, and with room for the dog.
The buildings run on backup power for at least 96 hours and keep a three-day supply of water and food. Most are schools that host classes the rest of the year, with storm-rated windows and roofs.
Shelters only open when a storm threatens. Their addresses are sent by LeoAlert, and residents can check their evacuation zone online at any time.
