From GovTech: Orange County Emergency Chief Balances COVID-19 and Hurricane Threats.Wearing masks isn’t just a message Avery and Orange County are sending the public, but also Orange’s employees as protecting its emergency personnel is one of its top priorities. COVID-19 has already spread among crucial workers who would be working in the event of a storm.

Keeping personnel safe in the event of a disaster is as important as keeping the public safe. COVID-19 didn’t change that, but it provided another hurtle. The Federal Emergency Management Agency published guidelines ahead of hurricane season to assist county leaders with how they can maximize safety standards among its personnel and citizens.