The Special Needs Registry is designed to assist residents of Manatee County who will require transportation or sheltering assistance when the citizen is notified to evacuate their residence because of a storm.
Contact 311 for shelter transportation needs at this time.
Special Needs Overview, Checklist and Application
Hurricane Season begins June 1 and runs through the end of November.
You may need to evacuate your home from an impending hurricane if you are power dependent, live in an evacuation zone or live in a mobile home. Residents are encouraged to use public sheltering only if no other options exist.
If you need evacuation transportation or require sheltering assistance, you must preregister.
In order to meet the special needs of those who need assistance during evacuations and sheltering due to physical and mental disabilities, Florida statutes mandate that each local emergency management agency in the state maintain a registry of disabled persons located within the jurisdiction of the local agency. The registration must identify those persons in need of assistance and plan for resource allocation to meet those identified needs.
Through Emergency Management's Everbridge system, registrants will be notified by a phone call, text or email of a pending evacuation and will be given specific instructions to follow for the Special Needs Shelter when an evacuation is called. Emergency Management will make every attempt to reach out to you via the methods provided when you register.
Eligible Conditions
Eligible conditions for the Special Needs Shelter include, but are not limited to:
· Being dependent on supplemental oxygen
· Being dependent on electricity for survival
· Official Diagnosis of: Dementia / Alzheimer’s Disease
Even if you have one of these conditions all applications are reviewed by the Department of Health Manatee for approval or denial.
Checklists and Application
The application and checklists are available below. Please complete, print and sign the application.
Return the completed application to:
Manatee County Emergency Management
P.O. Box 1000
Bradenton, Florida 34206-1000.
Annual registration is required.
Transportation Only to General Shelter (English)
Solo Transporte (Español)
Medical Shelter (English)
Refugio médico (Español)