What the registry is
Under Fla. Stat. 252.355, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, working with each county emergency management agency, keeps a registry of people with special needs so counties can plan to help them during evacuations and in shelters. The law covers people who would need assistance "because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment, or sensory disabilities."
- You can let emergency responders enter your home during search and rescue if needed.
- A caregiver may shelter with you in a special needs shelter, and service animals are allowed.
- Your registration is confidential.
Why it matters for people on Medicare
Medicare doesn't run the registry or decide who gets shelter. But many people on Medicare use services the law ties to it. Florida requires home health agencies, hospices, nurse registries and home medical equipment providers to give registration information to their special-needs clients every year, and doctors and pharmacies may do the same. Electric utilities must tell residential customers about the registry each year by May 31.
Consider signing up if you:
- use oxygen, a ventilator or other equipment that needs power;
- can't evacuate without help because of a disability;
- would need medical help or supervision in a shelter.
How to register
- Register online. FloridaDisaster.org's Special Needs Registry page links to the Florida Department of Health's registration form.
- Or contact your county. Your county emergency management office can take a paper form and enter it for you; FloridaDisaster.org lists county contacts.
- Keep it current. Update your registration if your address, health or caregiver changes.
- Plan to care for yourself too. The state says to be ready for at least 72 hours, so keep medicines, supplies and your Medicare and plan cards together.
More in hurricanes and Medicare in Florida.
Related questions
Does Medicare replace equipment lost in a hurricane?
Oxygen, wheelchairs and supplies.
What should dialysis patients do in a hurricane?
Your center's plan and ESRD Network 7.
What do I do about my medicines if I evacuate?
Pharmacies, receipts and longer supplies.
Sources
- Florida Statutes — s. 252.355, registry of persons with special needs
- Florida Division of Emergency Management — Special Needs Registry
- Florida Department of Health — Florida Special Needs Registry
- Florida Division of Emergency Management — County emergency management contacts
More questions in this guide
- What should dialysis patients on Medicare do during a Florida hurricane?
- Can I get my prescriptions refilled early before a hurricane in Florida?
- What do I do about my Medicare prescriptions if I have to evacuate for a hurricane?
- Does Medicare replace oxygen and medical equipment lost in a hurricane?
- Is there a Medicare special enrollment period after a hurricane in Florida?
Part of the guide: Hurricanes and Your Medicare in Florida · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Does registering guarantee me a place in a special needs shelter?
No. The Florida Division of Emergency Management says completing the registry doesn't automatically qualify you for a special needs shelter, and registering isn't a guarantee that emergency officials can help you. Your county will tell you about evacuation and shelter options.
Can my caregiver stay with me in a special needs shelter?
Yes. Under Fla. Stat. 252.355, the caregiver of a person eligible for a special needs shelter, and the people that caregiver looks after, may shelter together there. Service animals are allowed.
Is my registry information public?
No. The statute makes registration records confidential and exempt from Florida's public records law, though emergency response agencies can use them.
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