"Hurricane Season" written on a green and yellow sign

The 2020 hurricane season officially kicks off today at a time where the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage. As the two situations coincide, experts suggest people implement some COVID-19 safety measures into their hurricane preparation.

Rebecca Barry, a meteorologist at News 4 Jacksonville, says people who could potentially enter a hurricane shelter during a storm should bring with them a supply kit featuring two masks per person, gloves and hand sanitizer. 

Emergency management teams in the Jacksonville, Florida area plan to screen people for signs of COVID-19 before they enter a shelter and place those showing symptoms into a special shelter. Also, more shelters are expected to be available around the city, so that these havens aren't packed.

Barry projects that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will change its guidance over the next several months based on the state of COVID-19 and shelters are expected to follow these changing suggestions.

Hand sanitizer and PPE are less of a need for those staying at home during a hurricane. However, News 4 Jacksonville reports that the CDC suggests a face mask be worn when leaving the home.