As Tropical Storm Erika approaches and is expected to turn into a hurricane, we’re getting a bunch of inquiries from registrants; particularly those who are transient and who live in evacuation zones, as to where they can go.
In 2005 Florida passed a policy that pretty much banned registered citizens from emergency shelters. The policy is further limited by County ordinances, City ordinances and the shelter themselves. Just like the residency ordinances, because the FDLE or State says something, your County Sheriff, City police or individual shelter might have a stricter policy.
NOW IS THE TIME TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK
If you feel you might be subject to an evacuation or are living homeless, NOW is the time to find appropriate shelter. DO NOT WAIT until the storm is close, it will be too late.
If you are on probation, call your probation officer NOW and ask them to tell you where to go. If you are on electronic monitoring (house arrest or GPS) you should call your PO regardless NOW to ask them what contingency plan is in place for you should there be an emergency. You don’t want to be faced with the choice of getting injured in a storm or getting violated.
If you are not on probation, you are allowed to stay someplace else for a couple days. Remember, a registrable temporary residence is where you stay for 5 or more days. If you have the means to check in to a motel for a night, go! Have family in the area, stay with them! as long as you won’t be there for more than 4 nights, you’re OK.
If you are not on probation, have no family and cannot afford a cheap motel, call your County Sheriff and ask them where you are to go. Then, also call the shelter to confirm you will not be turned away. Be sure to document who you spoke with and, if possible, get that permission in writing. SOME shelters will accept registrants in segregated areas.
If all else fails, go to jail, go directly to jail, do not pass GO… etc. “State officials say that offenders seeking shelter in a prison or jail won’t be placed with other prisoners since they are not being arrested. At the jail or prison, sex offenders will wear an ID badge and can use the telephone. 7,458 sex offenders are currently on probation in Florida.” So… apparently you are not supposed to be thrown in with inmates and you are supposed to be free to use the phones, etc. I can’t vouch for anything “state officials say” but apparently, that’s the deal.
We cannot stress the importance of doing your homework NOW! Your PO/FDLE may not be open this weekend and individuals will likely be working on their own hurricane preparedness and not worrying about yours in the last minute.
Stay SAFE!
Florida wants to take this opportunity to kill you by depriving you of shelter from this deadly storm.
I would suggest that those who created this bill and who actively support it be sued for wrongful death should a registered citizen die from being deprived shelter during this event as it is nothing short of MURDER!
How can a “civilized” and “free” society allow the abuse of human beings in this way? How is this not an outrage? If Jews, Black, or gays were treated in such a way (as has they have all been in the past) there would be national outrage!
This must stop and it must stop NOW! Waiting years for time to pass is NOT an acceptable option!
Lee
I’m on PTI (pretrial intervention) and I cannot get ahold of my PTI officer to ask if there is a mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Irma, whether I can leave the state… being that there is no where in Florida to hide. Can anyone answer my question?? I’m so scared.
Please look for the link on our main page.
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/hurricane-irma-information-exchange/
FROM A REGISTRANT:
When I was on probation and living in a mandatory evacuation zone and had no alternative acceptable address I had to go to the ironically named Miami Welcome Center. There was a small group of us and it was like you described in your email. We stayed in a room adjoining the chapel and had no contact with any prisoners. You could not bring much with you. You could use the telephone but otherwise no entertainment other than a book to read and a deck of cards. But we were safe. My PO always called me if a storm was approaching and called me when it was necessary to travel down to Miami to get shelter.
Thank you so much for this very valuable information and in keeping our registered citizens in the know and keeping themselves safe during such a difficult event.Be prepared
To locate a shelter, visit: http://www.floridadisaster.org/shelters/
I would rather die in my home in a hurricane than have to go to a jail. I’m tired of being treated like an illegal immigrant. America is nothing more than a brutal police state with Florida at the forefront.
Amen! Not suggesting anyone should risk their life and we do have hundreds of members who are homeless because of the residency restrictions – they don’t have any shelter, so it MIGHT be more pleasant to sit in a cell than tied to a tree while being pelted with rain (though that is up for debate).
Jerry,
Sheriff Grady, Polk County allows illegal immigrant into shelters but not ex SO’s