FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2004
CONTACT: Jackie DiPietre 850-245-4111
Alternate St. Lucie Special Needs Shelter Opens in
Lantana, Palm Beach
LANTANA—Due to damage caused to shelters by Hurricane Frances
earlier this month, St. Lucie County has partnered with the Department
of Health to open an alternate special needs shelter at the State public
health campus in Lantana, Palm Beach County. Approximately 100 special
needs clients from St. Lucie County have elected to utilize this
alternative. Others have chosen to use special needs shelters in the
neighboring counties of Indian River and Martin or to shelter in place
with friends or families.
“I am glad St Lucie called on us to help,” said John O. Agwunobi,
M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H. “Through this partnership, the county has assured
that its special needs citizens will continue to receive the same level
of service as citizens of other counties”
Clients were transported from the St. Lucie County Civic Center to
the Lantana shelter this morning between the hours of 6am and noon. St
Lucie County Health Department nursing and public health staff traveled
with the clients and will be joined by other state personnel in caring
for them at the new site.
There are currently 62 special need shelter open across the state to
provide services for individuals
Local emergency management agencies are responsible for the
designation and operation of special needs shelters during times of
emergency or disaster. County health departments assist the local
emergency management agency with regard to the management of medical
services in their special needs shelters.
For more information about shelters, call your local Red Cross
office, or contact your local county emergency management office. For
more general information on special-needs shelters, visit
www.floridadisaster.org/
or www.doh.state.fl.us.
The Florida Emergency Information Line: 1-800-342-3557.
Public Information Emergency Support Function: 850-921-0384
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Hurricane Frances News
2012 State of Florida