The American Red Cross, along with a multitude of other national organizations and government agencies, has updated its annual materials regarding the protection of life and property during a hurricane to reflect the likely presence of COVID-19 in the mix.

Besides the Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Centers for Disease Control & Management (CDC), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Department of Labor (DOL), and even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have issued updated 2020 hurricane season advisories incorporating points related to the coronavirus.

In addition, several Connecticut agencies separately addressed or mentioned hurricane preparedness factoring in COVID-19 awareness in web posts. And Newtown’s Health District Director and Deputy Emergency Management Director Donna Culbert believes there is something relevant for residents to draw from each of them — even if most repeat core information residents have already heard about hurricane safety and virus avoidance.

“Newtown is a resilient community. Through the caring and loyal dedication to the town’s residents and its environment,” Culbert told The Newtown Bee, “we have lived through and learned the lessons that enable us to respond to immediate emergent needs as well as to invest in our collective and individual longer term needs. We have a strong foundation and its important that we keep current in our efforts — being prepared does not have an endpoint, it’s a continual process.”

If you missed it, the first Atlantic hurricane — Hanna, a Category 1 system at its peak — has already been and gone after twice making landfall in Texas and eventually being downgraded to a tropical depression on July 27.

Because of COVID-19, hurricane preparedness will look a little different than in other years, according to a June 1 release from the American Red Cross.

“Disasters won’t stop, even during a pandemic,” said Mario Bruno, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross, Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and early reports predict a busy year with as many as four storms reaching major hurricane strength. Make your preparations now, thinking about the coronavirus situation as you do.”

Draft A Plan

The most important thing to do and review with loved ones is draft a plan — and in light of the coronavirus, being prepared to adjust any previous plans you made. Besides the annual recurring advisories, Red Cross also reminds residents preparing for an incoming hurricane or tropical storm to check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and update emergency plans due to the pandemic.

The Red Cross is also seeking volunteers to help in the event of a serious storm or other disasters.

“The coronavirus pandemic will make it challenging to deploy trained disaster volunteers from other parts of the country should an emergency occur. In light of this, the Red Cross is asking you to be ready to help your community,” said Bruno. “Train now to be a Red Cross volunteer and answer the call to help if the need arises here in our region.”

There is a special need for volunteers to support sheltering efforts, and if you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO, or PA with an active, current, and unencumbered license, the Red Cross needs your support. To sign up to help in case of disaster, go to redcross.org/volunteertoday or call 860-426-5795.

Because of COVID-19, the Red Cross also advises residents to stay current on advice and restrictions from state and local public health authorities as it may affect your actions and available resources and facilities. Take time, too, to learn about Newtown’s response plan for each disaster and determine if these plans have been adapted because of COVID-19.

“Newtown’s Emergency Management Team is an active group that meets regularly, conducts exercises and reviews, and updates plans yearly and more often as situations evolve,” Culbert explained.

“The team has been meeting with the evolving status of the pandemic, initially three times a week, then weekly and now bi-weekly. However, the team members, public health, first selectman, police, fire, EMS, emergency communications, and human services communicate regularly — often daily. We have worked to keep the community informed through town communications including Code Red, News and Announcements, the town website, and social media. The Newtown Bee has been instrumental in providing timely updates and relevant videos specific for our town as well.”

To address the challenges of managing disaster response and recovery efforts during this year’s hurricane season, FEMA is releasing the COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season to help emergency managers and public health officials best prepare for disasters, while continuing to respond to and recover from coronavirus.

Residents are encouraged to download the FEMA mobile app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips; visit ready.gov for more tips.

Maintaining Virus Safety

The CDC urges residents to give themselves more time than usual to prepare emergency food, water, and medicine supplies. And when checking on neighbors and friends, they should follow social distancing guidelines (staying at least 6 feet from others) and other CDC recommendations to protect themselves and others.

Like many agencies, the CDC recommends having a “go kit” with necessary personal items for an emergency. This year, that kit should include items that can help protect against the spread of COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, bar or liquid soap, disinfectant wipes (if available), and two cloth face coverings for each person.

Face covers should not be used by children under the age of 2. They also should not be used by people having trouble breathing, or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or unable to remove the mask without assistance, the CDC states.

If you will be staying with friends or family outside your household to evacuate from the storm:

*Talk to the people you plan to stay with about how you can all best protect yourselves from COVID-19.

*Consider if either of your households has someone at higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults or people of any age with underlying medical conditions. Make sure everyone knows what they can do to keep these people safe from COVID-19.

*Follow everyday preventive actions, including covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Consider taking extra precautions for people living in close quarters.

In the event of a hurricane strike, the US EPA supports responses before, during, and after a hurricane by conducting air monitoring, ensuring the continued operation of drinking water and wastewater systems, and managing debris and impacted infrastructure. Its administrator also recommends turning to local authorities first for instructions and advisories close to home.

“In any emergency situation, local officials’ number one job is to protect citizens by weighing the risks and issuing guidance accordingly,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “If evacuation orders are issued, then you should evacuate and seek shelter — wearing PPE, washing or sanitizing hands, and social distancing to the highest degree possible.”

During this pandemic, Culbert said, the recommendations remain the same with an extra layer of protection.

“Residents should be prepared to shelter in place as well as to evacuate,” the local health expert said. “Social distancing and hand hygiene will be more important if you have to relocate to a new and different location. A town- or state-sanctioned shelter will be prepared to implement social distancing, hand hygiene, and sanitization practices, but it should remain in the forefront of the evacuees minds. We do everything we can to help protect our residents, but individuals know their needs best and need to advocate for themselves as well.”

Workplace Readiness

The US DOL and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have resources to help ensure workers and employers have the necessary equipment and know-how to stay safe when a hurricane occurs. Like residents, OSHA says employers should have plans in place and ensure workers know to implement them.

Plans should include proper places to take shelter, policies to ensure all workers are accounted for, and procedures to address on-site hazards. Employers and business owners should also assess workplace hazards, and select, train, and ensure workers use appropriate PPE.

The FTC’s consumer education specialist says even if you are a seasoned storm pro, think through the differences in how you prepare during a pandemic. The FTC offers tips to help prepare for, deal with, and recover from a weather emergency at consumer.ftc.gov/features/dealing-weather-emergencies.

Connecticut’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) publishes a state Guide to Emergency Preparedness in seven languages at portal.ct.gov/demhs.

DEMHS reminds residents that both stronger hurricanes and many of the weaker tropical storms have caused inland river flooding in Connecticut.

History shows that everyone living in southern New England must take tropical storms and hurricanes seriously, the agency states. Whether you live along the coast, by a river or stream, or far inland, a tropical storm or hurricane striking New England may affect you and your local area.

Connecticut’s Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew N. Mais has joined the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in asking everyone to be prepared to act if they are in the path of a hurricane. Part of that is discussing with their agent, broker, or insurance company if their current insurance coverage is still appropriate and adequate, and verifying any new additions or updates have been properly reflected in the reconstruction cost and/or personal property coverages.

He suggests that consumers take this time to make sure they fully understand their policy’s deductibles, including hurricane deductibles or voluntary wind deductibles and reminds them that state statute only permits a mandatory hurricane deductible in certain areas of the state.

Wind deductibles are allowed for homeowners, but a company may not mandate a wind deductible as a means for issuing or renewing a homeowner policy. The Insurance Department has additional storm and hurricane information on its website.

Resources & Websites

“The town website has pages for Emergency Management as well as Public Safety with useful links that range from family and pet preparedness to how to sign up to receive communications,” Culbert said. “Being connected to receive communications from the Town is critically important. General preparedness info helps residents do their homework, but receiving communications gives residents the most up-to-date direction on status of weather or other emergent conditions, forecasts and relief provisions that are in place or scheduled for future availability.”

*National Hurricane Center: nhc.noaa.gov

*Red Cross: redcross.org/ct

*FEMA: fema.gov/blog/2020-05-08/preparing-hurricane-season-during-covid-pandemic

*CDC: cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/covid-19/prepare-for-hurricane.html

*EPA: epa.gov/natural-disasters/hurricanes

*US DOL: blog.dol.gov/2020/07/01/hurricane-preparedness-is-your-workplace-ready

*FTC: consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/06/hurricane-season-2020-and-covid-19

For hyperlocal information in Newtown, Culbert and her fellow emergency preparedness officials ask residents to sign up for e-alerts by visiting newtown-ct.gov/subscribe — and find other emergency resources at newtown-ct.gov/public-safety.