HURRICANE IRMA – EMERGENCY RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH SENSORY OR OTHER DISABILITIES
HURRICANE IRMA – EMERGENCY EVACUATION ASSISTANCE
If you are blind, low-vision or have another disability and are in an evacuation zone but haven’t left yet
CALL 1 800 626 4959
If you’re sighted and in an evacuation area, but do not have a way to leave due to fuel shortage
CALL 1 800 955 5504
Price Gouging during a State of Emergency is ILLEGAL!
REPORT IT AT 305 547 3300
TIPS FOR ASSISTING DISABLED PERSONS | CLICK THE BOX TO GO TO THE ARTICLE
HURRICANEE IRMA : ARCHIVED LIVESTREAM
POST-HURRICANE IRMA SUMMARY FROM WEATHER.COM | CNN
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 11
TOUGH ROAD HOME FOR EVACUEES
AT LEAST 15 DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO IRMA
+5 MILLION CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER
(CNN) As nightfall fell Tuesday, many people from South Carolina to Florida were staying in darkened homes, dealing with fallen trees and blocked roadways, and hoping they could find gas.
Georgia: Almost 850,000 customers are in the dark, according to Georgia Power and Georgia EMC.
South Carolina: Almost 90,000 customers have no power, according to Duke Energy and SCE&G.
North Carolina: More than 36,000 customers don’t have electricity, according to Duke Energy.
Alabama: More than 7,000 customers are without electricity, Alabama Power said.
(Weather.com) Tuesday the death toll climbed to eight in Florida, which is still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Irma, from major flooding in Jacksonville to masses of debris covering most of Marco Island south of Naples.
The most recent deaths occurred when a family of three died in an Orange County home in what officials believe is a case of carbon monoxide poisoning, FOX35Orlando.com reports. Deputies say there was a generator running inside of the home, where two people were found indoors and one person who tried to get out was discovered on the front lawn. The authorities said they immediately smelled gasoline fumes upon entering the house.
Irma is responsible for at least five other deaths in Florida, including two deaths in Hardee County, one death in Orange County, one in St. Johns County and one in Winter Park.
If you’re blind or low-vision, or have another disability or special needs health condition, we’ve archived our checklist and instructions of how to prepare for this type of weather emergency, what to do before it hits, what to take to an evacuation center and tips for First Responders and volunteers on how to be sensitive to the needs of blind, low-vision persons and people with other disabilities.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS & RESOURCES
STAY INFORMED ABOUT YOUR EVACUATION ZONE
FLORIDA EMERGENCY INFORMATION LINE: 800-342-3557
Statewide Shelter Directory and Map
We’ve compiled Emergency Information for persons with sensory and other disabilities in Monroe, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties below – the areas that will be hit first when Hurricane Irma makes landfall early Sunday morning.
You can click on the image modules or the links in the text to learn more about evacuations and emergency services for the disabled.
And we’ve compiled helpful tips for First Responders, family, friends and neighbors who may have to assist someone with a disability with evacuation, or after the storm passes if they’ve decided to stay and shelter. Just click on the headline boxes to read the info on our Facebook Page.
This isn’t our normal mission, but World Access For The Blind wants to help ensure that no one with a disability gets left behind.
QUICK LIST
EMERGENCY NUMBERS & RESOURCES
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE:
Emergency & Evacuation Assistance Program: CALL 311 for assistance or 911 in an Emergency
Veterans from storm-impacted areas who require immediate assistance may contact: VA Health Resource Center Disaster Hotline: 1-800-507-4571.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
CALLING ALL NURSES: Florida needs 1,000 volunteer nurses to help at our special needs shelters. Please email BPRCHDPreparedness@flhealth.gov
Volunteer Florida – Call 1-800-FL-Help-1
SHELTERS:
This page contains summary information for Currently Open general and special needs shelters within the State of Florida.
LODGING:
Expedia – Through VISIT FLORIDA’s partnership with Expedia, Expedia.com/Florida has been activated to provide accommodations availability information for visitors, residents and first responders.
Airbnb – has activated their Disaster Response Program for Hurricane Irma. This program will facilitate free temporary housing in Northern Florida and Southern Georgia to Evacuees to aid Floridians evacuating their homes and relief workers arriving to assist in response to Hurricane Irma.
Airbnb hosts in the following Florida and Georgia communities are eligible to take part in the program and list their homes for free to evacuees and emergency relief workers:
• Florida: Leon County, Calhoun County, Franklin County, Jackson County, Liberty County, Gadsden County, Gulf County, Wakulla County, Madison County, Jefferson County, Taylor County
• Georgia: Decatur County, Grady County, Thomas County
These $0 listings are available for the next three weeks, until September 28.
Hosts interested in listing their properties for free are being directed to follow airbnb.com/disaster, where they can opt in by clicking “I can offer my space for free”
- Floridians who are not currently Airbnb users are still able to take part in the program either as hosts or guests — simply by creating a verified account on the platform
- In addition to the free listing price, all Airbnb service fees and state/local taxes are waived
- The hosts may decide how long they wish to list their homes for free within the program activation window (September 7 – 28)
TRAFFIC:
Travel and Roadways – latest information on traffic and roads from Florida 511. You may also call 511.
Tolls suspended – tolls have been suspended across the entire state
MOBILE APPS:
FLGetAPlan – preparedness app from FDEM Google Play iTunes
Florida Storms – Florida Public Radio Emergency Network Google Play iTunes
Florida 511 – Get up-to-the-minute, real-time traffic conditions and incident information for the State of Florida with Florida 511.
FEMA – mobile app
Google Crisis Map – shelters, storm track, and more Spanish
Red Cross – mobile apps
SOUTH FLORIDA RESOURCES | CLICK THE BOX TO GO TO THE ARTICLE
HURRICANE IRMA – Miami-Dade
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EVACUATIONS OF DISABLED PERSONS STARTED WEDNESDAY MORNING
If you are, or know of people who are, blind, disabled, elderly or have special medical needs, YOU MUST CONTACT the Emergency & Evacuation Assistance Program NOW!
CALL 311 for assistance or 911 in an Emergency
Normally, you need to be pre-registered for the program. it is the registrant’s or caregiver’s responsibility to report any changes to the information provided on the application by calling EEAP’s Support Line at 305-513-7700 or Miami-Dade County’s 311 Answer Center by dialing 311.
EVACUATIONS:
A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for all mobile homes, barrier islands, all of Zone A, Zone B, and portions of Zone C.
Please see the Miami-Dade Evacuation Order map and enter your address to see if you reside within a mandatory evacuation zone.
. To find out what zone your property is in, use the Storm Surge map.
TRANSIT:
Metrobuses will be picking up residents and taking them to open shelters until 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. Buses will resume picking up residents at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
> Find the closest Hurricane Bus Pickup Site
On Friday, Sept. 8, Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover services will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Miami-Dade Transit, including Special Transportation Service, will begin to cease operations and evacuations three hours prior to the estimated arrival of tropical storm force winds (sustained winds of 39 miles per hour) in Miami-Dade County.
SHELTERS:
Miami Carol City Senior, 3301 Miami Gardens Dr., Miami Gardens
Miami Central Senior, 1781 NW 95 St., Miami
North Miami Senior, 13110 NE 8th Ave., North Miami AT CAPACITY
TERRA Environmental, 11005 SW 84 St., Miami AT CAPACITY
North Miami Beach Senior, 1247 NE 167 St., North Miami Beach
South Miami Senior, 6856 SW 53 St., South Miami
Felix Varela Senior, 15255 SW 96 St., West Kendall AT CAPACITY
Pet-Friendly Center, 10901 Coral Way, Miami AT CAPACITY
More shelters have opened, including pet friendly:
> Find the closest open shelter
> Find the closest Hurricane Bus Pickup Site
Read more about emergency preparations you should be undertaking, if you haven’t already been evacuated, in our .
HURRICANE IRMA – Broward
HURRICANE IRMA TO HIT FLORIDA SUNDAY MORNING
Broward County Vulnerable Population Registry
REGISTER NOW – CALL 311 or (954)-831-4000 (TTY 954-831-3940)
Please share this information with anyone you know to be blind, disabled, elderly or to have special medical needs if they live in Florida’s Broward County.
The Vulnerable Population Registry is for residents who are at risk due to disability, frailty or health issues, regardless of age, who elect to stay at home in the event of a hurricane or other disaster.
The Registry is a partnership between Broward County and municipalities to help emergency responders better plan for recoveries from hurricanes and other emergencies. It is not a guarantee of assistance.
Veterans from storm-impacted areas who require immediate assistance may contact: VA Health Resource Center Disaster Hotline: 1-800-507-4571.
EVACUATIONS
Broward County is under a local State of Emergency. A voluntary evacuation for those living in low lying areas and mobile homes was ordered at noon on Wednesday, September 6.
A MANDATORY evacuation for these areas is ordered for noon on Thursday, September 7.
A MANDATORY evacuation is also ordered for people living east of Federal Highway, including the barrier islands. All tolls have been suspended to facilitate the evacuation.
The first, best shelter option for those evacuating is to stay with family or friends outside the evacuation area.
Updated List of Shelters and Evacuation Routes
TRANSPORTATION:
Broward’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is OPEN. Passengers are encouraged to check with their airline for possible delays or cancellations.
Broward County Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule on Thursday, September 7 and Friday, September 8. Express Bus service will continue to operate. Routes 15, 23, 56, and 88 will run on a weekday schedule.
TriRail will suspended service Thursday Night, September 7 after their last scheduled train.
Travel and Roadways – latest information on traffic and roads from Florida 511. You may also call 511.
Tolls suspended – tolls have been suspended across the entire state
POWER OUTAGES:
After a hurricane or other emergency, residents may experience prolonged power and phone outages. To report power outages, visit FPL.com or call 800-468-8243.
Read more on what to pack for evacuation in our Facebook Post.
HURRICANE IRMA – Monroe
Special Needs Registry for Key West area CALL: (305) 292-4591
ACTIVE MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER FOR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS
SHELTER OPTIONS FOR YOU & YOUR SERVICE ANIMAL
From Broward County, Florida:
If you need transfer assistance, sign language interpretation and other auxiliary aids, or a quiet zone for a cognitive disability or mental health need, call 311 or 954-831-4000, TTY 954-831-3940 for the most updated information.
Many residents are able to safely shelter at home in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. However, some residents are required to evacuate their homes. . Residents who must evacuate their home have several options to consider:
Option One – Stay With Family or Friends Outside the Evacuation Zone
This is your first, best choice and where you will be most comfortable.
Option Two – Stay in a General Population Shelter
General Population shelters provide a basic level of care and are open to all. No pre-registration is required. If you have a self-managed health condition or disability, you will likely be able to shelter comfortably in a General Population shelter.
SERVICE ANIMALS
Service animals are permitted in General Population Shelters so long as they meet the requirements under Federal law.
However, a Pet Friendly shelter, operated by the Humane Society of Broward County and Broward County, is available for residents owning pets, not considered a service animal, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Option Three – Stay in a Special Needs Shelter
If you are dependent on electricity for your medical needs, or have a medical condition that cannot be supported at a General Population shelter, we recommend you pre-register for the Broward County Special Needs Emergency Sheltering and Transportation Program.
Shelter applications are available at Broward.org/AtRisk, or contact the Broward County Emergency Management Division at 954-831-3902, TTY 954-831-3940.
LODGING:
Expedia – Through VISIT FLORIDA’s partnership with Expedia, Expedia.com/Florida has been activated to provide accommodations availability information for visitors, residents and first responders.
Airbnb – has activated their Disaster Response Program for Hurricane Irma. This program will facilitate free temporary housing in Northern Florida and Southern Georgia to Evacuees to aid Floridians evacuating their homes and relief workers arriving to assist in response to Hurricane Irma.
Read more in our Facebook Post.
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