HURRICANE SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER

Health Department / Health Center Emphasizes Disaster
Preparedness for Families with Special Needs

The Special Needs Shelter is set up during natural disasters when residents are encouraged or ordered to evacuate.  It provides medical care to persons with physical or mental disabilities, or serious medical conditions that require observations, assessment, or maintenance and are not ill enough for hospitalization.  A caregiver should accompany each person who has a medical or health care need

The Special Needs Shelter is under the supervision of registered nurses from the Health Department and is staffed by volunteers who assist with non-specialized tasks.  The Shelter provides a safe, secure environment but does not take the place of hospitals, assisted living, or long-term care facilities.

The Special Needs Shelter can accommodate persons with the following conditions or medical needs:

• Chronic respiratory conditions requiring oxygen/nebulizers
• Recent, but stable, cardiac conditions
• Insulin-dependent diabetes (patient is unable to care for self, does not have competent caregiver)
• Feeding tubes
• Foley catheter or ostomy (patient is unable to care for self, does not have competent caregiver)
• Wound care and dressing changes
• Recent eye surgery (patient is unable to care for self, does not have competent caregiver)
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Communicable diseases or infections

The Special Needs Shelter is NOT equipped to accommodate persons with the following conditions or medical needs:  ventilators, tracheotomy, apnea, recent unstable cardiac patients, equipment that requires electricity (except oxygen), third trimester pregnancy or high risk pregnancy.

Pre-registration is needed so the shelter can be adequately prepared and staffed.  For information about pre-registration, contact any home health agency or Hernando County Emergency Management Services (352) 754-4083.  Area residents with special needs are encouraged to register with Hernando County Emergency Management.  

Completed forms are to be mailed to Hernando County Emergency Management, Special Needs Program, 20 N Main Street, Brooksville, FL  34601.  Registration is free, voluntary, and confidential.  Your information will remain in the registry for up to one year.  The Special Needs registry is updated annually.  New forms are mailed to registrants to update information and verify eligibility.  Registrants who DO NOT reply or cannot be reached are removed from the registry.  It is up to registrants to keep their information current with Emergency Management.

The Special Needs Shelter is set up in a public school and provides shelter, sanitation facilities, and security.  The facility does not provide clothing or other amenities.  Very limited food service such as sandwiches, snacks, or coffee may be provided.  Each person with a special medical need is issued a cot.  Caregivers are issued cots if available.  Directions to the shelter can be obtained from Hernando County Emergency Management.  

Have ready at all times:

• Name & phone number of medical provider (doctor), home health agency, next of kin, etc.
• List of medications
• 30 day supply of medications
• Books, cards, or games to pass the time
• Arrange for pets to be safe

Have ready one week prior of storm affecting area – I.e. storm is in the Atlantic/Gulf:

• Medication list
• Medications for 30 – days
• Nebulizer medications for 10 days
• Dressings for wounds for 10 days
• Tube feeding supplies for 10 days
• Food for special dietary needs
• IV supplies – for 30 days
• Catheter/ostomy supplies for 10 days
• Lawn chair/cot, blanket/sleeping bag, pillow
  Flashlight
• Cash for purchases after a disaster (do not bring a lot of cash to shelter)
• Personal hygiene items
• Change of clothes for 3 days
  Sweater/jackets
• Notify family, out of area, of pending evacuation
• LABEL ALL EQUIPMENT with name, address, phone including wheelchair, walkers, luggage, nebulizer, oxygen concentrator, etc.

36 hours before storm impact – everything packed and ready to evacuate:

• Medications for 30 days
• IV medications and ice chest (with cold packs) if needed to be kept cold
• Oxygen tank (1-2 extra), oxygen tubing
• Oxygen Concentrator – BRING THIS TO THE SHELTER!  (buses transportation will load onto bus for transport)
• Nebulizer and attachments
• Wound care supplies
  Tube feeding cans
• Identification and Valuable papers
• Special food
• REVIEW ABOVE LIST AND TRIPLE CHECK THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE!

TWO HOURS PRIOR TO LEAVING YOUR HOME, SHOWER, PUT ON CLEAN CLOTHES AND HAVE A MEAL!

For more information, contact Hernando County Emergency Management at (352) 754-4083 or the Health Department / Health Center at (352) 540-6800.

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