‘It’s Hard Being Here’: Numerous Florida Shelters at Capacity as Irma Nears

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More than 50,000 people had already found spots in shelters across Florida. 

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Saturday there are 260 shelters open in the state.

At least 70 more shelters were scheduled to be opened on Saturday.

Shelters are open in every county in Florida.

Numerous hurricane shelters in South Florida are already at capacity and turning people away as thousands look for a safe place to ride out Hurricane Irma. 

Only two of the 21 shelters in Broward County were open as of Saturday morning: Lakeside Elementary in Pembroke Pines and Coconut Palm Elementary School in Miramar.

Ten of the 42 shelters in Miami-Dade County are at capacity, county emergency management officials said Saturday morning, and all of the pet-friendly shelters in the county have no more room. 

In Key West, 60-year-old Carol Walterson Stroud sought refuge in a senior center with her husband, granddaughter and dog. 

“Tonight, I’m sweating,” she told The Associated Press. “Tonight, I’m scared to death.”

In Lee County, Karen Lois spent Friday evening looking for a place for her family as well as the family dog.

“This is outrageous,” the San Carlos Park resident told the Fort Myers News-Press when she heard that the local shelter might not be pet friendly. “This is insane. What am I supposed to do with our dog, leave him out in the wind?”

(FORECAST: Get the Latest on Hurricane Irma) 

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said in a press conference Saturdaythat shelters are open in every county in the state. There are 260 shelters currently open, the governor said, and state officials anticipate that 70 more will be open on Saturday. The Florida Division of Emergency Management is keeping a running county-by-county list of open shelters.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who began issuing evacuation orders on Thursday, acknowledged some glitches in the process of opening shelters for as many as 100,000 people.

“Opening a shelter is not as easy as people think,” Gimenez told the Miami Herald. “This is an unprecedented event. We are now rewriting the book as we go.”

According to The Associated Press, more than 51,000 people had already found spots in shelters across the state as of Saturday morning. 

Judith and Steve Smith arrived at Odyssey Middle School in Orlando on Saturday. They fled their manufactured home after seeing on TV that Irma was getting closer. Judith’s 89-year-old mother lives alone next door and they didn’t want to risk being trapped.

The couple, both 69, called every hotel in town, and found no rooms. With their fuel tank emptying and the service stations closed, they decided to join hundreds filtering into Odyssey on Saturday morning. It was particularly tough for Judith’s mother.

“She misses her home but she’s got to be safe,” Judith Smith said.

Inside, a Venezuelan folk band strummed a bass guitar and two guitar-like instruments — a cuatro and a mandola — amid piles of blankets and bags of clothes. The shelter’s guests snapped photos and clapped along.

“We will entertain if people need entertainment to keep their minds away from danger,” said Alejandro Mendoza, the band’s manager. “Upbeat music, relaxing music. Maybe salsa, at night. We didn’t bring drums, but we can find something.”

Even some who weren’t in the mandatory evacuation areas chose to head to a shelter. Laura Correa and her husband Brayan told the Herald their house is not located inside an evacuation zone and has shutters and plenty of supplies to hunker down through the storm.

“But we have three children,” she said, her eyes welling up. “I couldn’t risk that roof coming off and putting their lives in danger. It’s hard being here.”

Others were thinking of their pets as the storm drew closer. 

Artie and Eve Kay made it to the West Boynton Recreation Center, with their three cats. 

“It’s so important they be with us,” Eve told the Palm Beach Post. “They are our kids.”

Most pet owners came with food and supplies for their furry loved ones, the Post said, but only one family member was allowed to stay with each animal, leading to some families have to split up. 

Marriea Hall, 85, who lives at Happy Landing Trailer Park in West Palm Beach, had her chihuahua in a tiny carry-on.

 “I had to get out,” she told the Post. “It’s going to take it all. It’s good to know there is somewhere safe we can go to. I didn’t want to leave [the dog] in the trailer to be blown away.”

Peter Vrouhaus also had a chihuahua in tow named Bebe. He, too, lives in a mobile home. 

“I’m expecting it to be toothpicks when I return.”

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