Annual Update Campaign Begins for Special Needs Registry

For Immediate Release For more information contact:

July 17, 2009 Metro Services 256.236.8642

Annual update campaign begins for special needs registry

As part of its planning and response strategy for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) maintains a registry of people with special needs in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair and Talladega counties. Over 4,700 verification forms have been mailed to registered people with special needs in an effort to update their information.

A registered person with specials needs will receive a letter from AEMA, a verification form printed with their personal information and a postage-paid reply envelope. The registrant should review and update their personal information and return the verification form in the postage-paid reply envelope. Even if there are no changes to the information, the verification form should be returned to AEMA. The registrant can also update their information by calling 256.236.8642 or 800.263.0201.

The registry includes people who:

• Have a physical, mental or medical problem and cannot shelter in place or evacuate,
• Need transportation,
• Have children who are home alone, and
• Do not have nearby family, friends or neighbors who can provide assistance in an emergency

If you are a person with special needs, registering with AEMA is just one step in your emergency preparedness plan. Knowing what to do – before, during and after an emergency – will help you be prepared. People with special needs should create a help network of people who can assist them within minutes of an emergency. As part of the registration process, information will be provided to help you create an emergency preparedness plan. During an emergency, people should be prepared to protect themselves and help each other because county and state emergency services may not be able to respond quickly to the overwhelming number of requests for assistance that would occur.

If you have registered as a person with special needs and have not received a verification form, contact the Alabama Special Needs Population Program at 256.236.8642 or 800.263.0201. Text telephone users can call 256.236.8812. For more information about emergency preparedness or registering as a person with special needs, call the Alabama Special Needs Population Program or visit www.alabamaspp.com. You can also contact your county emergency management agency at: Gadsden/Etowah County 256.549.4575