ORLANDO, Fla. – After a record hurricane season in 2017, most Floridians are hoping for a calm summer. While none of us can control nature, all of us can be ready to weather even the strongest storm.
Every Floridian needs to prepare for hurricane season and that includes people with disabilities and access and functional needs. Disasters affect everyone but some—like seniors, people with chronic conditions, the economically disadvantaged, and those with access or functional needs— are often disproportionally affected.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management partnered with every local emergency management agency in the state to create a registry so residents with disabilities or access and functional needs can receive assistance during a disaster. Floridians can register with their local emergency management agency through Florida Special Needs Registry. The statewide registry provides first responders with valuable information to prepare for disasters or other emergencies.
Registration is free and confidential. Information you offer will only be used to plan for and provide services during a disaster.
Additional information on preparedness for individuals with disabilities, including how to create a disaster plan, is available at Ready.gov.
For information on Hurricane Irma recovery, visit www.FEMA.gov/IrmaFL.
Follow FEMA and the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Twitter at
@FEMARegion4 and @FLSERT. You may also visit FEMA and the Division’s Facebook pages at Facebook.com/FEMA and Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.
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Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know
has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
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