Register NOW by calling

1-833-CHD-REGISTER

Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma were certainly wake up calls for all Georgia Coastal Communities. Chatham County officials learned during Matthew and Irma that we need to improve the tracking of individuals with Functional, Access and Medical Needs in the County. The Chatham Health Department is now encouraging those with functional, access, or medical needs to apply to the Hurricane Registry for those with Functional, Access and Medical Needs before another storm threatens the Georgia coast. Residents should plan ahead and call today!

The Chatham County Health Department maintains the Hurricane Registry which is made up of residents who may require transport and medical assistance during a hurricane evacuation and have no other resources such as family, friends, neighbors, or church members to help them if they need to evacuate. Residents must apply to be on the registry.

Those with functional or access needs on the Hurricane Registry will be evacuated to a shelter in an inland county that will likely be in a gymnasium or similar setting and could be several hours away. The Hurricane Registry is truly a last resort, but if a hurricane is threatening our area, it is important that Health Department officials know where the most vulnerable residents are located so that evacuation assistance can be provided to them. It is important to note that people living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and personal care homes are not eligible for the Hurricane Registry for those with Functional and Medical Needs and must follow their facility's emergency plan.

Functional and access needs registrants/clients are defined as those individuals who may need assistance with activities of daily living. This may include services to maintain their independence in a shelter. This includes children and adults with physical, sensory, mental health, and cognitive and/or intellectual disabilities affecting their ability to function independently without assistance. Others may include women in late stages of pregnancy, elders, and people needing bariatric equipment.

Medical needs registrants/clients are defined as those individuals who require support of trained medical professionals. This includes those individuals who may need assistance with managing unstable, terminal, or contagious conditions that require observation and ongoing treatment.

To apply, residents should call the Hurricane Registry Hotline at 1-833-CHD-REGISTER.