The Importance of a Special Needs Registry

Over the past few years, Cape May County has seen two of the biggest hurricanes to hit the Northeast in the last century, resulting in some of the most extensive evacuations in the county’s history. In recent times, the county has been lucky enough to be spared the major havoc that both Irene and Sandy brought to other parts of the Northeast, as well as being lucky enough to be left out of much of the devastating snowstorms that have wreaked havoc on the U.S.
However, the experiences from both those storms that we did brush with as well as the experiences of others, did bring to light many issues that need to be better considered and addressed by the area’s emergency responders. None may be more pressing than the need for a special needs registry.
The Cape May County Office of Emergency Management, as well as many of the individual municipalities and their individual emergency services have begun, in recent years, to compile “special needs registries,” or lists of addresses and residents within their districts that require some form of special care.
These special needs are usually health related, and can range from something as simple as needing a refrigeration system to keep insulin cold, to as extensive as being bedridden and requiring continuous medical care. Those with hearing issues or those who are visually impaired, having a developmental disability or mental health issue, being restricted to movement by a wheelchair, and weighing in excess of 400 pounds are all qualifying factors in regards to special needs.
This information is of vital importance to emergency responders, not only during the times of evacuations and major weather threats to our area, but also for the everyday response of emergency personnel for medical incidents, fires, and other alarms that may require public safety officials to respond. But in order to cater to any of these needs, responders have to know about them.
By knowing of your needs, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical professionals will be able to provide specialized response and care, whether it be performing simple wellness checks during power outages, providing your home with emergency generators, or ensuring you’re on an immediate evacuation list for major natural disasters. And in the event of a fire, firefighters will know what types of special needs an occupant may have and how that could affect a rescue, or their planning for dealing with your emergency.
It’s vitally important for you to notify your local agencies of these needs. You can do so online by visiting the Cape May County website at capemaycountygov.net and clicking on “Emergency Management.” You can then follow a link from that page to obtain a form to register for the county’s registry program, which will alert area dispatchers and emergency personnel of your needs.
You should also contact your local government in addition to the county. See if your local Office of Emergency Management has a Special Needs Registry. Many local municipalities have created their own registry in addition to the county’s database, although many have not. If your community doesn’t have their own, urge them to begin one. Take the initiative, and make a difference in prevention and protection of our county and its residents. Stay safe
Knoll, 21, of Eldora, can be contacted by email at beyondtheflamescmc@gmail.com. He is a student at Rowan University.