Hurricane season runs through November, and families caring for an older adult in Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County should know how the Florida Special Needs Registry works and what a special needs shelter does and does not provide.
By Orlando Senior Advisor Care Team · October 11, 2026
Orlando is about 50 miles from the coast, and that distance gives some families a false sense of security. Hurricanes that cross the peninsula bring prolonged power outages, downed trees, and flooded roads to Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. For an older adult who relies on oxygen, a powered bed, dialysis, or refrigerated medication, a multi-day outage is a medical event, not an inconvenience.
Hurricane season officially ends on November 30, and storms in October and November are not unusual in Florida. Planning now, before a storm is named, is far easier than trying to arrange help once a watch or warning is issued and phone lines and roads are saturated.
Florida maintains a statewide Special Needs Registry for people who need help evacuating or who need medical monitoring during and after an emergency. Registration is run through your county emergency management office, and Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties each have their own process. You can register online through the state's emergency management site or by contacting your county's emergency management office directly.
Registration does not guarantee a space and it is not the same as calling 911. It lets emergency planners know where vulnerable residents live and what they need, so that transportation and shelter capacity can be organized. Registrations generally need to be kept current, so review the entry each spring and whenever the person's health, address, or caregiver changes.
Ask your county about eligibility. In general the registry is meant for people who need electricity-dependent medical equipment, need help with transportation, or require ongoing medical monitoring. It is not a general shelter for people who simply prefer not to stay home.
A special needs shelter is a government-run shelter staffed with some health professionals, intended for residents whose needs exceed what a general population shelter can handle. It is not a hospital or a nursing home. Capacity is limited, and it is designed for short stays.
Plan to bring your own supplies: a two-week supply of medications in original containers, a current medication list, copies of insurance cards and photo ID, any assistive devices such as a walker or hearing aids, incontinence supplies, comfortable bedding, and a caregiver or family member if the shelter allows one. Ask your county what to bring and whether a companion may stay, since rules vary and can change.
Shelters open only when an evacuation is ordered for your zone or when officials announce them, so listen to Orange County, Osceola County, or Seminole County emergency alerts and know your evacuation zone before a storm approaches.
Licensed assisted living facilities in Florida are required to have an emergency plan approved by the county, and facilities that operate generators must follow the state's backup power rules. Families should ask three questions: Will you shelter in place or evacuate? Where will residents go if you evacuate? How and when will you contact me?
Ask to see the written plan, ask who your point of contact is during a storm, and make sure the facility has your current phone number and an out-of-area backup contact. If your parent has a power-dependent device, confirm in advance how the facility will support it.
Know the evacuation zone for the home and for the facility. Register with the Special Needs Registry if the criteria fit. Fill prescriptions early in the season so a refill is never due during a storm. Keep a go-bag with medications, documents, and chargers. Arrange a transportation plan and a backup, such as a relative inland or a pet-friendly hotel outside the zone. Check on neighbors who live alone.
If you are an out-of-state family member, designate a local friend, neighbor, or care manager who can physically check in, and share the person's medication list and doctors with them.
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