Anyone with Special Needs Who Might Need Help During or After a Hurricane Must Register
In preparation for the potential hurricane, the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) urges anyone with a disability, chronic condition, or special healthcare needs to enroll in the Rhode Island Special Needs Emergency Registry. The intent of the Special Needs Emergency Registry is to have a reliable system for the identification of Rhode Islanders who require special assistance during emergencies. The information provided will be shared with local and state emergency management and responders such as local town/city police or fire. Individuals have a choice of either registering online at www.health.ri.gov/emregistry or mailing a completed Registry Form to RIEMA (Database Manager, 645 New London Ave. Cranston, 02920 or by calling 401-222-4616/RI Relay 711. The Registry Form is available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Hmong, Cambodian and Lao and in large print, CD-Rom, disc and via the HEALTH website http://www.health.ri.gov . If you cannot fill out this form on your own, please have a family member or caregiver complete the form and submit on your behalf. Also, if more than one person from a household has a disability, chronic condition or special healthcare needs, each person should submit a separate Special Needs Emergency Registry Form. Once a Special Needs Emergency Registry Form is submitted, the Department of HEALTH will send a GO-KIT to your home to help you begin to prepare for an emergency. The Rhode Island Special Needs Emergency Registry is a joint effort of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and the Rhode Island Department of Health. All Rhode Islanders should visit the RIEMA website www.riema.ri.gov for up to date information on hurricane preparations.
Kate McCarthy-Barnett, EdD