SARASOTA – Sarasota and Charlotte Counties are teaming up to be more prepared for hurricanes. The counties are still finalizing two agreements. The first would house medically dependent evacuees from Charlotte if the area gets another big storm like Hurricane Irma. The second brings more staff to Sarasota County shelters, including Charlotte County School District employees, County employees, and law enforcement and first responders.
Sarasota County Director of Emergency Services Richard Collins says the low-lying areas of Southwest Florida make it difficult to find evacuation centers.
“In Charlotte County, they have very limited capacity at this point,” Collins said. “It doesn’t mean they’re not trying; it just means it’s difficult to find those places. Working together, if we can identify support for our shelters, that makes it better for their residents and makes it better for us as well.”
Potential staffing shortages have delayed the agreements, but officials from both sides say they will happen.
