Sheriffs in Florida counties expected to be hit by Hurricane Milton are warning registered sex offenders who need shelter from the storm not to seek shelter in designated public facilities. did. Instead, go directly to the jail.
As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Flagler County residents are under orders to evacuate the area in preparation for Hurricane Milton. Those stranded and in need of a more durable place to ride out the storm are taking their families and up to four pets to Palm Coast, about 40 miles south of St. Augustine along Florida's east coast. You will be invited to Rimfire Elementary School in .
“This evacuation center will also house residents from areas under evacuation orders who have nowhere else to go.” message This was announced by the Flagler County Emergency Management Agency.
“If you prey on this community, you're going to weather the county jail storm.”
Although public shelters seem welcoming to most residents in need, some local residents do not go there. This includes people who have been convicted of sex-related crimes and have since returned to society.
“If you are a predator, you are prohibited from entering the Rimfire Refuge,” Sheriff Rick Staley said at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Instead, Staley said authorities already have other arrangements in place for these potentially dangerous individuals.
“If you are designated as a sex offender under Florida law and require protection, you must go to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility,” Staley continued. Then he quickly pointed out, “That's the county jail.”
“I'll be staying in the lobby of that building. I'm sure you've seen it before,” he added with a straight face.
You can see a clip of that statement here. The full text of the press conference can be viewed below.
Sheriff Staley too caveat Combating predators who seek to exploit the situation and “prey” on Flagler County's vulnerable residents.
“To those criminals who think they can prey on our communities, please remember that we have extra officers on patrol during times of disaster,” Staley said. “Our real-time crime center is up and running and we have a lot of cameras in this county. … If we prey on this community, we're going to weather the storm in the county jail.” ”
Evacuation orders remain in place for Flagler County until 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
“We will get through this together,” Sheriff Staley assured everyone.
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