The following information was taken from the Indian River County Disaster Preparedness Guide:SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS SHELTER INFORMATION
The goal of the Special Needs Shelter Program is to provide a safe place for persons requiring medical assistance to temporarily shelter during an evacuation from either a man-made or natural disaster, rather than inundating local hospitals with a large number of people that a specially equipped and staffed shelter could adequately handle.
REGULAR PUBLIC SHELTERS
Regular public shelters available under emergency conditions will accept anyone who is self-sufficient and needs no outside professional assistance in performing activities of daily living. Individuals not meeting the above criteria will either be referred to the Special Needs Shelter or to an appropriate health care facility. The regular public shelters will have nursing personnel and volunteers to assist evacuees from the time of arrival at the shelter. Individuals with decreased mobility but no additional medical problems will be provided for in a regular shelter.
TRANSPORTATION REGISTRATION
Individuals needing transportation to a Regular Shelter or the Special Needs Shelter, must register with the Special Needs program prior to hurricane season. There are no guaranteed pick ups for last minute transportation requests once an evacuation order has been issued.
SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER
The focus of the Special Needs Shelter is the medical support and care of persons who require special care during an evacuation at a shelter, such as but not limited to: Dialysis, Oxygen dependent, Nebulizer and Hospice patients.
Registration is not required, but recommended to allow entrance into the Special Needs Shelter. There are some limitations, specifically those patients with unstable medical conditions, citizens living in adult living facilities or nursing homes. These facilities are required to have emergency evacuation plans for their residents. Top register for the Special Needs Shelter, call the Emergency Management office at (772) 567-2154.
This facility, is designed for the handicapped, and has an adequate space capacity for the Special Needs citizens of our county.The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County will house the pets of local residents who are in a Special Needs Shelter during a disaster event. Arrangements can be made to either drop off the pet or for the animal to be picked up before the owner goes into the shelter.
The Special Needs Shelter is located at the Treasure Coast Elementary School located on Highway 510 – just east of the Sebastian River High School. The address is 8955 85th Street, Sebastian, Florida, 32958.To download the entire Disaster Preparedness Guide, go to www.irces.com or pick one up at any County Library or at the County Administration Building.