Hurricane Nicole: Palm Beach County shelters fill as weather worsens
Hundreds of people trickled into emergency shelters across Palm Beach County Wednesday as Hurricane Nicole approached Florida’s east coast.
County officials reported about 440 people had checked into the county’s nine shelters by 6 p.m.
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At Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary in Riviera Beach, about 50 people had checked in by the middle of the day, Principal Katrina Granger said. She expected many more to arrive.
“Some folks are still weighing their options,” she said.
'Make it a positive experience for everyone'
Granger and a group of school and county workers were milling about making preparations for a influx of people into the school’s cafeteria. The goal, she said, was to “make it a positive experience for everyone.”
Mary Virginia Jackson checked into the Bethune Elementary shelter Wednesday morning to avoid the stress of scrambling later, she said.
Hoping to move into a house in Royal Palm Beach in a few weeks but thrown for a loop by a recent surgery, she said having a secure place to ride out the storm was a huge relief.
“It’s a big help,” she said. “I’m trying to get along.”
At Palm Beach Gardens High School, newly installed Principal Jay Blavatt spent the morning overseeing the campus’ single-day transition from voting precinct to emergency shelter.
By midday the influx had been relatively light, he said. He estimated 20 people had checked in so far. When more come, he said, they will be ready.
“We want to make sure everyone who comes in is safe,” he said.
The number of shelter guests is expected to be significantly smaller than when larger storms threatened in past years.
When Hurricane Matthew menaced the area in 2016, for example, nearly 8,000 residents sought refuge in county shelters.
Andrew Marra is a reporter at The Palm Beach Post. To support our journalism, please consider subscribing.
Palm Beach County Emergency Shelters open for Tropical Storm Nicole
Palm Beach Gardens High School
Independence Middle School
Palm Beach Central High School
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary
Park Vista High School
Lake Shore Middle School
Pahokee Middle School.
Special needs shelter at the South Florida Fairgrounds (Pre-registration is required at (561) 712-6400.)
West Boynton Recreation Center (Pet-friendly shelter)
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane Nicole: Palm Beach County shelters starting to fill
