Special Needs Plan

The Winter Springs Police Department partners with Seminole County's Office of Emergency Management on their Medically Enhanced / Well-Being Check "Special Needs" Program.  Please use the resources listed below to ensure that you or your loved one is prepared before any disaster strikes.

Program Registration

Register online or download the PDF Registration Form.

Program Overview

Individuals requiring medically enhanced sheltering are those with health or medical conditions who meet the program criteria or need transportation assistance during an evacuation.  The medically enhanced shelter is for those individuals who are not in a care facility, such as a hospital, nursing home or congregate living facility. These facilities are required to have an evacuation plan in place for their residents and patients to be transported to another healthcare facility.

The Seminole County Medically Enhanced Sheltering / Well-Being Checked program is a voluntary program for disabled citizens that should be considered by individuals who have NO alternative than a public shelter or need transportation to a shelter.

The Office of Emergency Management recommends using this program only as a "last resort" and individuals with these medical needs should consider sheltering with relatives or friends prior to the use of a shelter.  If other alternatives are not available, individuals electing to use a Medically Enhanced shelter, or any public shelter should bring cots, bedding, medicine, medical supplies, and food supplies for each person to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

Criteria for Medically Enhanced Emergency Shelter Program:

An individual meets the medical criteria if:

• They require assistance with an ostomy and indwelling catheter management.
• Activities of daily living are so restricted by immobility.
• They have a respiratory condition requiring special equipment such as monitors or oxygen.
• There may be other conditions which would render an individual eligible for special needs emergency sheltering. These will be considered by the review of the registration form, by the Office of Emergency Management and the Health Department.

Additional Resources

• Seminole County's Special Needs Plan Webpage
• Seminole County's Disaster Preparedness Guide for People with Special Needs (PDF)
• Seminole County's Special Needs Shelters Video

The information provided on this page was obtained from Seminole County's Prepare Seminole website.  If you have any questions or concerns about this information, please contact Winter Springs Police Department at 407-327-1000 or Seminole County's Office of Emergency Management at 407-665-5102.