TAVARES — Hundreds of Lake County households will begin receiving letters this week asking residents to update their registration information regarding special needs shelters.

The Lake County Emergency Management Division began its annual update of the special needs database this month. In all, 584 residents are registered for the special needs shelter program in Lake County.

The process of keeping an accurate account of every resident listed in the database is especially important. The information is needed in the event it becomes necessary for residents to evacuate their homes, such as due to a hurricane.

Residents are asked to return special-needs information back to the Emergency Management office by April 15.

Other residents that do not receive a letter, but feel they may be qualified for a special needs shelter during a disaster can call the Emergency Management office for an application or can log on to the Emergency Management Web site to download an application. The Emergency Management staff reviews applications for completeness and the Lake County Health Department Special Needs Review Committee makes a final determination on applications.

Typically, special needs residents are electrically dependent, however, other factors that assist with determination of eligibility include medical history, age, type of home and where it is located, and the proximity of nearby relatives.

For more information, call the Emergency Management Division at (352) 343-9420.

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Contact information:
Christopher Patton
Communications Coordinator
Office: (352) 343-9609; Cell: (352) 455-0445
cpatton@co.lake.fl.us