Apollo Beach and Ruskin residents who rely on oxygen tanks, dialysis machines or other powered medical equipment have a narrow window to preregister for Hillsborough County's special needs shelters before the most dangerous stretch of hurricane season begins in mid-August.
The county held its final "Make a Plan" community discussion on July 28, urging people with medical vulnerabilities to sign up for shelter space and transportation assistance while skies are still clear.
"Now is the time to make the plans," said Katja Miller of the Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management. "It's important that you're not waiting until a storm is impending. That's going to give you some extra stress, and it may even limit your time to gather resources or make good decisions."
The message carries extra weight along the South Shore. Apollo Beach sits on Tampa Bay and faces direct storm surge risk, meaning residents with medical needs may require more lead time to evacuate than their inland neighbors.
What special needs shelters offer
Special needs shelters provide medical monitoring and nursing support, but they are not hospitals or nursing homes, county officials said at the July 28 session. The county has installed new generators and upgraded backup power at these facilities in recent years to keep them running during extended outages.
Claire Maher of the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County said residents who preregister can request transportation help at the same time. The county's Sunshine Line then places them on a pickup list and contacts them directly when a storm requires evacuation.
Sunshine Line Director Jerry Stickney said his team works from the Department of Health's registry, calling each person to confirm their ride to a shelter.
Residents accepted into a special needs shelter should bring a caregiver if needed, a 30-day supply of medications, vital medical equipment, backup energy sources for powered devices, photo ID, insurance cards and emergency contact information.
Pets are allowed if properly secured and current on vaccinations.
Shelters are a last resort
Emergency management officials stressed that anyone whose home is outside an evacuation zone and structurally safe should plan to stay put or shelter with friends or family. The shelters exist for people who have no safer option.
Hillsborough County updated its evacuation zones for 2026 and published side-by-side comparison maps specifically for Apollo Beach. Residents can look up their zone using the Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool at hcfl.gov.
How to register
Registration does not guarantee acceptance. After applying, DOH-Hillsborough reviews each case to determine whether the shelter can meet the individual's needs.
Residents can register online at snr.flhealthresponse.com or call DOH-Hillsborough's Special Needs Shelter Program office at 813-307-8063. The phone line is not always staffed; callers should leave a name and contact number for a callback.
The July 28 session was the county's last scheduled "Make a Plan" event, so registration must happen independently online or by phone.
Key dates and registration
- Mid-August through mid-October — Peak hurricane season in Hillsborough County
- Before a storm threatens — Preregister for special needs shelter and Sunshine Line transportation at snr.flhealthresponse.com or 813-307-8063
- Before a storm threatens — Look up your 2026 evacuation zone at hcfl.gov using the HEAT tool
