The Intersection of COVID-19 and Hurricane Season

NORFOLK, Va. - With hurricane season fast approaching, the current COVID-19 public health crisis could have major impacts on how localities prepare.

Joshua Behr is with the Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center at Old Dominion University. He says how municipalities get ready for hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1, must take COVID-19 into account.

"We know the health crisis that is going on right now is likely to continue well into the fall," Behr told News 3 anchor Todd Corillo. "There is a reasonable probability that we’re going to have a series of severe weather events, perhaps even a hurricane or two approaching the Atlantic coast this season. It’s wise to prepare our understanding of evacuation and sheltering under the current public health COVID-19 crisis."

Evacuation orders and opening emergency shelters will likely see the greatest impact.