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According to Chapter 252.355 Florida Statutes, “In order to meet the special needs of persons who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering because of physical, mental or sensory disabilities, each local emergency management agency in the state shall maintain a registry of persons with special needs located within the jurisdiction of the local agency.”

The Special Needs Registry Shelter Program is designed to provide hurricane or disaster related evacuation assistance and care for those without other alternatives. If you need transportation assistance or have a health/medical condition that requires medical attention while at a shelter, you should register for this program. If you are a client of a hospice or home health care agency, you should ensure that they have already registered you into the system. This registration helps the local emergency management agency identify those in need of assistance and plan for resource allocation to meet those needs.

Persons with special needs may authorize emergency response personnel to enter their homes during search-and-rescue operations, if necessary, to ensure their safety and welfare following disasters.

This registration must be updated annually. West Florida Electric Cooperative helps local emergency management agencies get the word out about this program.

If you or someone you know has a special condition affecting eyesight, hearing, speech, walking, breathing or an emotional condition and would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering, please contact your local emergency management agency.

The level of care given in special needs shelters goes above the basic first-aid care available to shelters open to the general population. All information provided is kept strictly confidential. 58778001

Calhoun County: 674.8075 • Holmes County: 547.1112
Jackson County: 482.9678 • Washington County: 638.6203

*All 67 counties in the state now utilize a new electronic format for the Special Needs Registry Shelter Program. Contact each agency to find out how to access this electronic form. You can access the registry online at https://snr.floridadisaster.org. You will need to login, create a password and then access the portal. If you have any questions, or do not have internet access, please contact your local emergency management office.