Hurricane Isaias’ latest track shows it skirting offshore of Florida’s east coast this weekend.
To prepare, state officials are asking seniors and people with special needs to sign up for a special registry system ahead of the storm.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a State Emergency Response Team (SERT) Special Needs registry so they and people with special needs can more easily receive help during disasters.
First responders can access the system to know who needs what kind of help - like oxygen and electricity requirements, mobility, and if a person has a caregiver - as well as where they are located. It also allows registrants to receive local updates on evacuation and shelter options.
State officials say it’s even more important to have this information available now due to COVID-19 and special regulations on social distancing.
Sign-ups include filling out basic demographic information, along with an assessment review to better understand what a person will need.
In Duval County, nearly 45,000 seniors live alone, and close to another 7,000 are dependent on electricity for life-sustaining medical equipment.
People who signed up for the registry last year will need to do it again. Those interested in signing up can find more information here.
Sky Lebron can be reached at slebron@wjct.org, 904-358-6319 or on Twitter at @SkylerLebron.
