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Tallahassee facing hotel dilemma with FSU homecoming approaching

Tallahassee facing hotel dilemma with FSU homecoming approaching
Tallahassee facing hotel dilemma with FSU homecoming approaching
Posted at 5:19 PM, Oct 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-16 17:19:00-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Thousands of alumni from Florida State University are descending on Tallahassee for FSU's Homecoming Weekend, but where will they stay? 

Local hotels in Tallahassee and the surrounding areas are almost 100 percent full of first responders, line workers, and evacuees.  

Samantha Padgett of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association said that's one of the challenges they are facing at the emergency operations center.

How to fill the demand for lodging for first responders, line-workers, evacuees, and also paying customers that are coming to the Tallahassee area for a special weekend.

Padgett said they are they are seeking different types of shelter for first responders and line-workers and are looking for other sheltering opportunities in the area. 

She said hotels do have to honor reservations made in advance, but a local hotel owner say guests have been very understanding. 

"No one is ever going to let a first responder be on the street. Now whether or not they will have the most optimal sheltering availability, no one can guarantee that," said Padgett. "But there is a sincere effort to make sure that those who are putting their lives on the line to help those that have impacted they are trying to make them as comfortable as possible to give them a place to rest a place, a place to shower, and get clean so they can go back to their mission." 

Thus far, the FSU Alumni Association has not received any reports or complaints of alumni having problems with hotel reservations that were made in advance in Tallahassee and the surrounding area.

FSU said the college is doing its part to house first responders. They are putting up 600 line workers in the Tucker Center, putting up Red Cross workers in Tully Gym, and trying to find places for their own displaced faculty and staff.