‘They need to be somewhere safe.’ How Hurricane Debby tested Manatee’s homeless outreach

Two days before Hurricane Debby rolled through Bradenton, John Baker sat in a wheelchair on 17th Avenue West with a dog named Chief at his feet.

He was next to a shopping cart with a backpack, clothes, a toy giraffe and other belongings.

Baker, 56, who started living on the streets about a year ago, took a break from the sun under a tree.

“It sucks,” Baker said. “It’s so hot you can’t breathe. You can go inside a store for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and you have to get back out there unless you have money to buy stuff.”

It was the Friday before the storm dumped a record 12 inches of rain on Manatee County. Baker said he did not want to go to a cramped shelter and would rather ride out the storm at his son’s home.

“I’m scared for him, but I ain’t scared for myself,” Baker said as Chief fell asleep at his feet. “I’ve been in worse weather than this.”

‘Somewhere safe and sturdy’

Katie Ross, CEO of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, said homeless people share many of the same needs as people who are not homeless during a storm.

“They need to be somewhere safe and sturdy,” Ross said. “They want to stay dry and have air conditioning and electricity, if possible, and a way to secure their belongings.”

Maj. Thomas Richmond, corps officer for the Salvation Army of Manatee County, said he urges homeless people to seek shelter from strong winds and rain.

”Many of these folks sleep on the ground or they sleep in makeshift things down by the water itself,” Richmond said. “As the storm starts to come in, and we get that storm surge, it can come in so quickly, sometimes it can take people by surprise.”

Margi Dawson, director of development for Turning Points, said she helps warn homeless people about an approaching storm. She pointed out that many homeless people do not get severe weather alerts on a phone, TV or computer.

“When someone is experiencing homelessness, their brains are wired to think about survival for today, ‘Where am I going to sleep? Where am I going to eat?’” Dawson said. “They don’t think ahead.”

Richmond said he encourages homeless people to ask questions about how to stay safe during a storm.

“If it looks dangerous, try to get out of the weather,” Richmond said. “Don’t assume that everything is going to be OK and it’s going to be another 2 o’clock rainstorm. If you’re not aware, you’re going to get caught.”

Debby tested Manatee’s homeless outreach

Sgt. Joy Jewett, who leads the Resource Assistance Program for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, said she helps get the word out about storm threats and evacuation plans.

“We don’t want anybody stranded,” Jewett said. “It’s the exact same thing that we do with mobile home parks and people who don’t have access to radios and television, like our vulnerable elderly community. There’s groups throughout the county that go door to door in the trailer parks and announce that there’s a hurricane and that it’s not safe and that we’ll provide transportation.”

Tameka Foster Wilson, a homeless outreach case manager for the Bradenton Police Department and Manatee County Emergency Medical Services, pointed out that homeless people are the most vulnerable during a storm.

“Whenever it gets to the point where emergency services can no longer go out to assist, if they’re still outside, then they’re vulnerable to victimization,” Foster Wilson said.

Jordan Poulos, a homeless outreach officer for the Bradenton Police Department, said he helps homeless people understand how unsafe it is to be outside during a storm.

“There’s no need to be out in inclement weather, the high winds, the rain,” Poulos said. “...Let’s get to safety and then we’ll worry about getting back to everyday life after the storm passes.”

But Jewett pointed out that many homeless people are hesitant to go to an emergency shelter.

“Most people don’t go into the shelters,” Jewett said. “They ride it out wherever they’re at. They’re very resilient. They also have friends and family that they count on. Worst case scenario, they tend to find family and other places to go.”

Foster Wilson said she hopes to get homeless people to accept help during a storm.

“There’s no judgment,” Foster Wilson said. “Everyone has a past. Everyone is someone’s son, someone’s daughter. You don’t want your family to be outside, but unfortunately, life happens.”