Special Needs

The DOH in Miami-Dade County supports the health and medical needs of our most vulnerable populations during emergencies and disasters.  We work closely with the Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management, the Miami-Dade Medical Reserve Corps, and other response partners to ensure individuals who need assistance in maintaining their health during an emergency evacuation to a Special Needs Shelter, as in the event of a hurricane.  Several local agencies and organizations share the responsibility of serving our vulnerable populations during emergencies. These partners, including the Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management, American Red Cross, home health care agencies, hospitals, oxygen and durable medical equipment providers, and others, that work together to plan and execute response strategies and protocols.

DOH in Miami-Dade provides and coordinates medical and nursing support staffing and management in Special Needs Shelters.  We urge the entire community, and especially individuals with special needs, to have a plan and make arrangements to evacuate your home prior to a disaster.  Deciding to “ride out the storm” may be dangerous and could result in delay in receiving assistance directly after an event from Fire-Rescue and other agencies.  Be pro-active with your health and safety and register by calling the phone numbers listed below.

Register with the Emergency and Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP)
The Miami-Dade County Emergency & Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP) gives evacuation assistance and provides transportation for those residents who are REGISTERED with EEAP to the Special Needs Shelter in the event of a hurricane approaching or other local disaster with voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders from the County Officials.

Who can register with EEAP?  People to register can include but not limited to the following:

-People using oxygen

-People who have feeding tubes, feeding pumps or ostomies

-People who use electric-powered scooters or require assistance to move about

-People dependent on other electrical devices  

To register for the Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program, please call 305-513-7700 or register online or send an email to eeap@miamidade.govto request more information.

Please visit the Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management website at: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/emergency/home.page

Special Needs Shelter Planning for Residents

Shelter To Do List:

1. Complete an emergency contact list. Ask several relatives or friends who live outside your immediate area (between 50 and 100 miles away) to act as a clearinghouse for information about you and your family after a disaster. It is often easier to place an out-of-state long distance call from a disaster area, than to call within the area. All family members should know to call the contact person to report their location and condition. Once contact is made, have the contact person relay messages to your other friends and relatives outside the disaster area. This will help to reduce calling into and out of the affected area once the phones are working.
2. Bring specifications for adaptive equipment with you and your supplies (in case it needs to be replaced). List the style and serial numbers of medical devices that you will be using in the shelter such as nebulizers, Bi-level and Continuous positive airway pressure machines. (BPAP and CPAP machines)
   
   
3. Prepare and share emergency documents. Including important information typically needed after a disaster. Store emergency contact list and documents in your own emergency supply kit, wallet, or safe deposit box and give copies to your personal support network and out of area contact.

Copies of your emergency documents should include:

• Proof of ownership or lease of your residence. (This is important when applying for disaster assistance after the disaster.)
• Social security number and those of your family members.
• Vehicle, boats, etc. - make & model, identification and license numbers.
• Bank account numbers and credit account numbers.
• Living Will and letter of instructions.
• Insurance policy numbers.
• Securities, deeds and loan numbers including company name, address and telephone numbers.
• Photos or video of all valuables for documentation of insurance claim. Consider documenting your possessions on film with a video or camera
• Personal documents, i.e.:  Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).

Assemble our own emergency supply kit. Use a duffle bag or backpack to hold the contents of your kit, and label it with your name and phone number. Store your emergency supply kit in a place that is cool and dry, and easy for you to reach.

Things to review and update every six months:

• Emergency Health Information Card
• County registration data
• Emergency Contact List
• Emergency Supply Kit

Additional considerations for people with special needs:

-Make a list of all electric-dependent life-support equipment and plan for an alternate power source in advance.  

-In the event you are home alone or unable to converse with responders, display important health and medical information on your refrigerator for rapid access by first responders.

-Practice Assertive Communication by carrying a written copy of key phrases such as:  "I cannot read.  I can point to pictures or key words you will find in my emergency kit" "I may have difficulty understanding what you are telling me.  Please speak slowly and use simple language."  "I forget easily; please write down information for me."

-Protect monthly benefits that may be mailed to your home by enrolling in direct deposit programs.