When Escaping a Hurricane Means Risking Jail
A Florida sheriff department's plan to check warrants at shelters could risk lives among evacuees and first responders alike.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department in Florida sent out a stark warning to residents this week as Hurricane Irma churns toward the peninsula: Some of those seeking aid at local shelters could face jail instead—or be barred altogether.
“If you go to a shelter for #Irma and you have a warrant, we’ll gladly escort you to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail,” the department wrote on Twitter Wednesday. Minutes earlier, the account had warned that officers would be stationed at every shelter and that “sex offenders/predators” would not be allowed in.
If you go to a shelter for and you have a warrant, we'll
— Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff)
