Special Needs Shelter Information

This is a shelter of last resort for those people that need more medical supervision than a general Red Cross shelter can provide and have special medical needs, but do not require hospitalization.

Should you have no other place to go, you must pre-register with the Department of Public Safety. Find out now if you qualify before an emergency impacts our community. The shelter does not take reservations, so plan to arrive early once it has been determined that the shelter will be opened for a particular emergency situation. The registration form is required to be completed and returned to:

Department of Public Safety
Escambia County
6575 North "W" Street
Pensacola, Florida 32505
850-471-6400 phone | 850-471-6455 fax

Once received, the form will be forwarded to the Health Department where the applications will be screened for eligibility. You will be notified by mail if you qualify for admittance into the special needs shelter or not, and if there may be additional information required for individual determinations, a Health Department nurse will contact you directly. Please update your information with us each year.

• If you are a home healthcare company client, find out what the home healthcare company disaster plans are to continue providing services to you so you can plan your actions appropriately.
  
  
• Licensed healthcare facilities (nursing homes, adult living facilities, etc.) are required to manage their own facilities and have plans for the safety and well being of their clients and staff. Clients are not allowed to be dropped off at the Special Needs Shelter.
  
  
• Transportation to and from the Special Needs shelter only, can be coordinated through the Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) System should you have no other transportation options. You may call ECAT at 595-3228.
  
  
• Dialysis is not provided at the Special Needs Shelter. Please coordinate with your healthcare provider as to the options available to meet your needs.
  
  
• Being disabled will not necessarily qualify you for the special needs shelter.
  
  
• The Special Needs shelter does not routinely admit pediatric (children) special needs clients. The facility and the staff are not equipped nor have the specialty training to manage pediatric special needs clients.
  
  
• The Special Needs Shelter will admit mental health clients as necessary. Each mental health client will be required to have a caregiver 24 hours a day for as long as the client remains in the shelter or that shelter operations remain open. There will be no or minimally trained mental health professionals available.
  
  
• The Special Needs Shelter will admit service animals only. No other animals and pets will be allowed.
  
  

What you must bring to a special needs shelter:

• Each client MUST have one caregiver.
  
  
• A full supply of ALL required medications for the special needs client that will last for a minimum of two weeks. (The shelter does not and will not provide medications).
  
  
• All medical equipment and supplies (oxygen tanks, etc.) required to sustain the special needs client for a minimum of two weeks.
  
  
• Any personal supplies (adult diapers, grooming supplies, etc.) to sustain the special needs client for a minimum of two weeks.
  
  
• Any special diet needs to sustain the special needs client for two weeks. Food provided will be minimal, unable to meet special dietary needs, and may be hot or cold, and the same food item for several days in a row. This is a shelter, not a hotel or hospital. Services will be basic life sustaining services.
  
  
  
  

Definition of a Person with Special Needs and Special Needs Shelter (SpNS) Criteria

1) A person with special needs is defined as a person who during periods of evacuation, either mandatory or voluntary, will require assistance that exceeds the basic level of care provided at the general population shelter but will not require the level of skilled medical care provided at institutional facilities.

2) Criteria for Special Needs Shelter client may include, but not limited to:

• A person with a stable medical condition requiring periodic observation, assessment, and maintenance (i.e. glucose readings, vital signs, ostomy care, urinary catheter) by a nurse.
• A person requiring periodic wound care assistance (i.e. dressing changes).
• A person with limitations that require nursing assistance with activities of daily living.
• A person requiring and needing nursing assistance with oral, subcutaneous or topical medication.
• A person requiring minimal assistance with ambulation, position change and transfer (i.e. able to move more than 100 feet with or without an assistive device).
• A person requiring oxygen that can be manually supplied.
• A person medically dependent on uninterrupted electricity for therapies including but not limited to oxygen, nebulizer, and feeding tubes. Ventilator dependent persons and persons with multiple special needs requiring a higher level of care should seek assistance from a skilled medical facility.
• A person with mental or cognitive limitations requiring assistance who is accompanied by an appropriate fulltime caregiver for the duration of their stay in the shelter.
• A person whose weight does not exceed the safety weight restrictions of provided cots. (300 lbs).
• A person who can be safely transferred and does not require special lifting or transferring equipment. A person requiring a stretcher to be transported may need to be referred to a higher skilled medical facility.

3) Persons with the following conditions/requirements are NOT appropriate for the Special Needs Shelter and should be referred to a medical management facility: (This list is not all inclusive)

• Third trimester pregnancy
• Renal dialysis
• Patients requiring isolation (MRSA/TB
• Ventilator patients
• IV Therapy
• Hyperalimenation
• Bedridden and total care patient
• Acute shortness of breath
• Acute chest pain

4) Persons with the following conditions/impairments (if NOT combined with other qualifying conditions) do not require sheltering in a Special Needs Shelter and are appropriate for a general shelter:

• First and Second trimester pregnancy (stable)
• Vision Impaired
• Hearing Impaired
• Amputees
• Wheelchair Bound

Special Needs Shelter FAQs (PDF)

Special Needs Shelter Application (PDF)