Special Needs Patients: Hurricane Preparedness
If you are planning on staying longer at your Ocean Reef residence this year or are a full-time resident, the Medical Center encourages you to plan in advance of a hurricane for your personal evacuation plan.
Monroe County does provide for a Special Needs Shelter; however, it should not be a replacement for having an evacuation plan of your own. You should try and seek help or shelter from family, friends or neighbors in a hurricane or other disaster. Public shelters should be a last resort for those who have no other choice. It is advised that you work on a plan that meets your specific medical needs with your doctor or a healthcare professional. Patients with special needs must register with the Special Needs Registry on Monroe County’s Emergency Management website. We are now in the peak of Hurricane season and anyone with the following special needs should register well in advance.
Eligible conditions for the Special Needs Shelter include but are not limited to:
- Being dependent on supplemental oxygen
- Limited mobility
- Needing assistance with daily activities such as feeding, medications and hygiene
- Moderate dementia
- Cognitive impairment
- Immobile or wheelchair-bound
- In need of wound care and/or constant supervision
Upon visiting Monroe County’s Special Needs Registry, you will be directed through the registration process. You may also download the Everbridge app for your smartphone. Registrants are notified by telephone, text or email of a pending evacuation and given specific instructions to follow when they need to evacuate to the Special Needs Shelter.
If you have trouble registering on the portal, please contact Keith Young at the Medical Center. In the event of a hurricane, the Medical Center and Public Safety work together to assist with appropriate transportation for those with special needs. But you must be registered with Monroe County or you may not be allowed into an appropriate shelter.