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Emergency Preparedness - Special Medical Needs Registry

In order to meet the needs of those who require assistance during evacuations and sheltering, Florida statutes mandate that each local emergency management agency within the state maintain a registry of disabled persons located within the jurisdiction of the local agency. 

What is the definition of a special medical needs client?

A person qualifying for special medical needs is primarily someone medically dependent on electricity (i.e. electricity needed for life-support equipment), oxygen, or individuals with physical, cognitive, or medical conditions who may require basic assistance from medical professionals. Special needs clients may also include persons with regular need for assistance with medications and/or observation, dementia, chronic conditions that require assistance and persons with contagious health conditions that require minimal precautions or isolation (rare in shelter).

Any person that meets the above criteria and plans to use a public shelter during an evacuation should register by registering online now, filing out the downloadable form and submitting well in advance, or by contacting the Emergency Preparedness Division at (904) 255-3172 for assistance.

You may visit www.jaxready.com/SpecialMedicalNeeds to learn more about special needs registration.

You may register online now through the City of Jacksonville's Special Medical Needs Registry.

You may download a registration form and follow the instructions at the bottom of the form to submit by mail, fax, or electronically:

The Registration Process

The Duval County’s Emergency Management agency utilizes the Florida Special Needs Registry to identify those persons with special medical needs who may require assistance or evacuation and to plan for resource allocation to meet those identified needs.
 
Completing the Duval County Special Medical Needs Registry does not automatically qualify the individual for a special needs shelter.
 
All applications will be reviewed by medical staff from the Florida Department of Health and assessed for program eligibility. Ineligible applicants will be referred to applicable sheltering options, which may include a general population emergency shelter.

**The registry is updated annually starting in January. Each client MUST re-register to remain active on the registry.**

Will my privacy be protected?

Florida Statute 252.905 declares any information furnished by a person or business to the Duval County Emergency Management for the purpose of emergency planning is exempt from F.S. 119.07 (1) and s. 24 (a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Information provided through the registry is therefore exempt from public records requests made of the Division. The information within the registry will only be used in the planning for and provision of emergency and/or disaster services.

Special Medical Needs Registration Tips

Duval County’s Emergency Management Division will make every attempt to reach out to you via the methods provided when you register. 
  • It is important to print legibly on the form and answer ALL questions. DO NOT LEAVE ANY BLANKS! 
  • Remember to identify the type of transportation is needed. Indicate
  • Remember to list your primary contact number and type (cell, land line). We can't contact you in times of emergency if there isn't a number listed or if that number isn't accurate.
  • Yes, your medications are important! However, please list only prescription medications. We don’t need to document vitamins, supplements, or OTCs.
  • One form per individual.  (Note: If you and your spouse both need to register, please complete a form for each person.)
  • Don’t forget to add your apartment/unit number. A majority of our returned mail is because the apartment/unit number was not listed on the registration form.
  • ANNUAL updates are required in order to stay active on the registry.

Will my privacy be protected?

Florida Statute 252.905 declares any information furnished by a person or business to the Duval County Emergency Management for the purpose of emergency planning is exempt from F.S. 119.07 (1) and s. 24 (a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Information provided through the registry is therefore exempt from public records requests made of the Division. The information within the registry will only be used in the planning for and provision of emergency and/or disaster services.

List of Emergency Shelters Identified as Most Accessible to Persons with Disabilities

The City of Jacksonville has twenty-nine (29) emergency shelters spread throughout its boundaries. This document is intended to inform persons with disabilities and their families as to the shelters that have the most accessible parking, exterior routes, entrances, interior routes and toilet facilities.

This web page is not a guarantee that any particular shelter will be opened in response to a particular event. The decision to open a shelter depends on many factors, including the type of the emergency, the scope of the emergency, and the proximity of the shelter to the persons affected. 

Prior to going to a shelter, you must check local media reports, JaxReady.com or call 630-CITY (630-2489) to confirm that a shelter has been opened and is available.

The shelters considered most accessible and available to persons with disabilities are:

Atlantic Coast HS- 9735 RG Skinner Parkway (32256)
Bartram Springs Elem- 14799 Bartram Springs Pkwy (32258)
Enterprise Elem- 8085 Old Middleburg Rd. S. (32222)
Oceanway Middle- 143 Oceanway Ave. (32218)
Waterleaf Elem- 450 Kernan Boulevard (32225)
Westview K-8- 5270 Connie Jean Road (32210)
The Legends Center-COJ - 5130 Soutel Drive (32208)

Please visit the City’s Emergency Preparedness website for additional information on emergency preparedness.

Not all shelters may be operational for a particular emergency. You must check local media reports or call 630-CITY (630-2489) before going to a shelter to verify whether it will be open and available. Thank you.