The Coastal Health District of Georgia serves the counties of Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long & McIntosh

Hurricane Registry for those with Functional, Access, or Medical Needs

Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30, but the Hurricane Registry for those with functional, access, or medical needs is open all year long. If you live in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, or McIntosh County and think you may qualify, we urge you to apply for the Hurricane Registry NOW. Residents should apply BEFORE a storm is threatening our area.

It is important to note that Registry applications will stop being accepted 72 hours prior to the arrival of tropical storm force winds.

REGISTRO DE HURACANES PARA AQUELLOS CON NECESIDADES FUNCIONALES, DE ACCESO O MÉDICAS


How the Hurricane Registry Works

The Hurricane Registry is a list maintained by the health departments in the 8 Georgia counties of the Coastal Health District. The list includes residents with certain healthcare conditions who may need transportation or medical assistance and have no resources such as family members, neighbors, or friends to help them evacuate if a hurricane is threatening. Residents must apply to be on the Registry. Residents who meet the criteria and get on the Registry will be evacuated when there is serious threat of a hurricane.

Registrants with Functional/Access Needs

Children and adults requiring Functional Needs Support Services (FNSS) may have physical, sensory, mental health, and cognitive and/or intellectual disabilities affecting their ability to function independently without assistance.

Examples include children or adults who need assistance with activities of daily living including eating, taking medication, dressing, bathing, communicating, transferring from bed to chair and chair to bed, and toileting.

Others that may benefit from FNSS include women in late stages of pregnancy, elders, and people needing bariatric equipment.

Functional Needs Support Services address needs such as:

These registrants may be evacuated to an inland shelter so they are safe from the storm. The accommodations at the shelter will be basic and the shelter may be several hours away.

Registrants with Medical Needs

Medical needs registrants typically require support of trained medical professionals. They may need help with things like IV medication, tube feeding, receiving dialysis and oxygen, and operating power-dependent equipment to sustain life.  These registrants may be taken to a pre-identified safe location which could be located several hours inland.

Please note that anyone who lives in a nursing home, assisted living, or personal care facility is not eligible for the registry and must follow their facility’s emergency plan.


How to Apply

The Registry is truly a last resort, but it’s important that local emergency management agency and public health officials have a list of residents who have certain needs and absolutely no other way to evacuate.

The time to apply for the Registry is when there are no storms threatening. It is important to note that Registry applications will stop being accepted 72 hours prior to the arrival of tropical storm force winds.

To apply, residents can call toll-free, 1-833-CHD-REGISTRY (1-833-243-7344). A representative will take some basic information and then your local health department will follow up with you to complete the application.

The application can also be downloaded by clicking one of the buttons below. Once completed, the application should be mailed or hand-delivered to your county health department.

Click a button to download application:

Hurricane Registry Application

View and Download the Protected Health Information Authorization Form.


Want More Information?

Get even more information on our Hurricane Registry Resources page, where we have FAQ sheets in English and Spanish, flyers you can download and print, evacuation checklists, and videos about the registry.

Visit the Hurricane Registry Resources Page

(Registry application updated August 2023)