What does it take to use Manatee schools as hurricane shelters?

Paul Damico, chief safety and security officer for the Manatee County School District, said no one will get turned away from a hurricane shelter in the middle of a storm. 

“If they show up soaking wet with their dog, you have to accept the dog,” he said. “We feel for people, so we’ll put them in a classroom with their dog.”

That being said, Damico admitted that someone did get turned away once.

Years ago, someone tried to bring their pet alligator to the shelter. But in that case, it was prior to the storm and Damico told them to take the alligator away. 

Outside of the people and pets that show up to the shelters, the operations are standardized. Unless it’s a special needs shelter, Damico can open a shelter in under two hours. 

The school district works hand-in-hand with the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center. The EOC makes the decision as to which shelters should open and when. The school district takes it from there. 

The same 27 schools are on-call each year. Staffing starts with school district employees, and then county employees supplement as needed.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are also on hand to keep the peace and make sure everyone feels safe. 

Alcohol, illegal drugs and weapons are prohibited in county shelters. 

Anything else residents bring with them, including children and pets, are their own responsibility.

One thing evacuees don't have to worry about is cooking. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are on the house and served warm daily.

Photo by Liz Ramos

R. Dan Nolan Middle School is the only special needs shelter in Manatee County. 

The middle school is equipped to serve individuals who are dependent on oxygen and electricity for survival. It also serves those with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. 

However, residents must fill out an application, and it must be approved by the Manatee County Department of Health. 

A special needs shelter is not a hospital, so it may not be equipped to handle every condition. Individuals have to bring their own medication, supplies and bedding and be able to sleep on a cot or a floor mattress. 

Anyone who will need assistance has to sign up with Manatee County’s Special Needs Registry ahead of any pending storm. Transportation to the shelter is also available.

A new application needs to be filled out each year, so the county recommends applying early in the year and well before hurricane season starts June 1. Applications can be found online at MyManatee.org.

The Department of Health sets up the special needs shelter at Nolan a day in advance and staffs it with doctors and nurses. With about 100 staff members, Damico said there’s often more staff than residents in the special needs shelter.

Hurricane Milton saw a more even ratio with 118 special needs residents choosing to evacuate to the school.

The Department of Health sets up a diesel generator. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a permanent generator for the middle school in February that will cost more than $4 million including the permanent generator, the cement pad, the fencing, an enclosure, a diesel tank and electrical connections.

FEMA will cover approximately $3.04 million, and the Hurricane Ian Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will cover the remaining 25%.

Just as important as providing shelter for those in need is the cleanup process. Once the emergency ends, the cleaning begins. 

Damico equated the cleanup to “the COVID days.” A germicide is used, and everything is thoroughly cleaned before students return to school. 

If more severe storms become the norm in Manatee County, the costs to the school district for hosting the shelters is bound to rise.

For example, during Hurricane Ian, 17 shelters were opened, and it cost the district $1.38 million. In 2024 during Hurricane Milton, over 12,000 people evacuated to the 17 shelters that opened up across the county. That was just one of three hurricanes to pass through Manatee County last year.