CLAY COUNTY — There were no tropical waves in the Atlantic Ocean. Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico, but that didn't stop members of the Clay County and Florida Division of Emergency Management from touring several Clay County District Schools as emergency shelters for possible hurricanes.

During the walkthroughs on Monday, July 15, officials inspected the building footprints and space requirements, assessed equipment needs and availability and ensured each location had generator backup, among other factors.

A county spokesman said that sites will be determined based on needs created by pending storms.

“We always prepare for hurricane season,” said Clay EMS Director Tim Devin. “We’ve partnered with the Clay County School Board, the Department of Emergency Management for the state of Florida, our local Department of Emergency Management, community services with Clay County. We want all the players to be on the same page and have all the equipment needed. We would have to have, for opening up a shelter, the staffing requests. We like everyone, every year, to put their eyes on it.”

Officials also inspected general population shelters, special needs shelters and pet-friendly shelters. They also inspected backup shelter locations within the county. Clay County Community Services and Clay County Animal Services Departments were also involved in these walkthroughs. They also inspected special-need shelters where they could use the Department of Health. All the shelters have communications backups, so we use the Clay County Ares, the ham radio operators. In addition, it will have some pet-friendly shelters, so the county has its Animal Services, which are going through the shelter walkthroughs.

The county is also looking at some backup shelters that traditionally are not open during a disaster.