Hurricane Helene Update #14 – County launches ride-share program with Uber to/from storm shelters
Hurricane Helene is now a Category 4 storm.
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County is aware of the issues regarding the state’s promotion for free voucher Uber rides to shelters. To ensure residents can safely get to and from shelters as Hurricane Helene approaches, the County has taken action and launched its own ride-share program in partnership with Uber.
“I appreciate how quickly County staff responded to this issue and came up with a solution for the safety our residents,” said County Manager Michele Lieberman.
“I credit our great County staff for their quick problem-solving on this important issue as soon as calls started coming in,” Commission Chair Mary Alford said. “Ensuring the safety of our residents is the highest priority.”
Program details
Residents can now access Uber ride vouchers (up to $35 each way) to travel to and from any of the three open shelters in Alachua County or Grace Marketplace. Vouchers are valid for Alachua County residents only. The code can be used two times per account.
Please be aware that Hurricane Helene is very close to Alachua County. There may not be drivers on the road at this time, but the code will also be valid after the storm passes.
How to redeem your ride:
- Open the Uber app
- Tap Account on the bottom right & tap Wallet
- Add promo code rvJ91rXGZsI
- Up to $35 each way to and from Alachua County shelters and Grace Marketplace.
- Or click the following link: https://r.uber.com/rvJ91rXGZsI
Open shelters
- Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center (1028 NE 14th St., Gainesville, FL, 32601) – Pet-friendly, general population
- The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex (24880 NW 16th Ave., Newberry) – Pet-friendly, general population
- Alachua County Senior Recreation Center (5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville) – Special needs
Other location
- Grace Marketplace (3055 NE 28th Dr., Gainesville, 32609) – homeless shelter
Stay up-to-date with the latest emergency information by texting “Alachua” to 888-777 or visit AlachuaCountyReady.com. Residents can also call 311 for general questions and rumor control. Residents should still call 911 for emergencies.
For the latest storm track and updates, click here.
For comprehensive storm information, visit the Alachua County Ready website.
Sign up for text alerts by texting the word ALACHUA to 888-777 to stay fully informed of any disaster-related information related specifically to Alachua County.
“I appreciate how quickly County staff responded to this issue and came up with a solution for the safety our residents,” said County Manager Michele Lieberman.
I credit our great County staff for their quick problem-solving on this important issue as soon as calls started coming in,” Commission Chair Mary Alford said. “Ensuring the safety of our residents is the highest priority.”
Gotta love how they interviewed themselves for this press release. Zero details provided. This is a classic problem, reaction, solution stunt. Blow up a nonexistent problem and react with your very own life-saving solution. Everything is politicized now…even storm-related press releases.
“Residents can now access Uber ride vouchers (up to $35 each way) to travel to and from any of the three open shelters in Alachua County or Grace Marketplace.”
“Please be aware that Hurricane Helene is very close to Alachua County. There may not be drivers on the road at this time, but the code will also be valid after the storm passes.”
So basically this is a post storm homeless shelter relocation program? Everything is so damn weird these days!
They must’ve got the idea cause other counties are ubering their vagrants here. Their vagrant problem solved.
Give everyone at Grace a free one way Uber back to where they came from and close Grace down.