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40 <br />40 <br />in July of 1989, the Indian River County Department of <br />Emergency Services formed a committee to address people <br />within Indian River County with Special Medical Needs. <br />Since then, the goal of the Special Need's Shelter Program <br />is to provide a safe place for persons requiring medical <br />assistance to temporarily shelter during an evacuation from <br />either a man-made or natural disaster, rather than <br />inundating local hospitals with a large number of people that <br />a specially equipped and staffed shelter could adequately <br />handle. <br />Regular public shelters available under emergency conditions <br />will accept anyone who is self-sufficient, and who needs no <br />outside professional assistance in performing activities of <br />daily living. Individuals not meeting the above criteria will <br />either be referred to the special need's shelter or referred to <br />an appropriate health care facility. The regular public <br />shelters will have nursing personnel and volunteers to assist <br />evacuees from the time of arrival at the shelter. Individuals <br />with decreased mobility without medical problems will be <br />provided for in a regular shelter. <br />Registration for evacuation assistance will be provided for <br />anyone who requires assistance with evacuation during an <br />emergency to either a regular public shelter or to the Special <br />Need's Shelter. Individuals needing transportation need to <br />register with the special need's program prior to the <br />hurricane season. <br />Special Need's registrants have been separated and <br />categorized to the level of assistance required. This includes <br />evacuees requiring space in shelter only, transportation and <br />space in shelter only, space in the special need's shelter <br />only; transportation and space in the special need's shelter <br />only Lind transportation to a local hospital only (if pre - <br />admitted). <br />The focus of the Special Need's Shelter is the medical <br />support and care of persons who require special care during <br />an evacuation at a shelter, such as: <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 77