“Sex offenders” barred from Florida shelters
News Nation states, “Sex offenders in one Florida county are being told they cannot enter shelters during Hurricane Milton and must stay at the local jail instead.”
No surprise to most of us, this was in Flagler County where Rick Staly is the sheriff. Staly said that these people, who are forced to be classified as sexual predators, have probably seen a jail before.
Certain areas of Flagler County had a mandatory evacuation order, thereby issuing an order for some people to go straight to jail.
Political commentator Rogan O’Handley reacted to the news, saying, “Welcome to Florida. If you’re a convicted sex offender, you aren’t allowed in our hurricane shelters. You can spend the night in the county jail.”
Some counties, such as Marion and Pinellas, did provide shelters for Persons Forced to Register.
A few years ago, the Virginia state legislative body passed a law that would not allow people on the registry to enter a shelter during a disaster. The governor vetoed the bill saying, “…it is unconscionable that people could be turned away from shelters during hurricanes, flash floods or other emergencies.”
It is unconscionable what the state of Florida is allowing.
I would rather go down with the ship, than go to a shelter. Bless those who go but to me shelters remind of my time in prison.
No privacy, crowded, the smells, sharing bathrooms, eating what they give you not what you want, worrying about your stuff being stolen, not being able to leave once the storm hits and more.
Just a thought. Has anyone found any information on crimes committed in the shelters such as theft? Thieves are a loud in. Or physical assault? (Not sex related) Murders are aloud in. The only crime barring people is a sex offense. Barring people from a shelter can’t be legal. And no they should not have to incarcerate themselves to find safety.