Hurricane season in Volusia County is June 1 to November 30. If your loved one is over 75, has reduced mobility, depends on electric medical equipment, takes time-sensitive medications, or has dementia, evacuating safely is exponentially harder than for the rest of the population.

We've coordinated hurricane prep for our Volusia clients through Ian, Nicole, Milton, and every storm since. This is the playbook that works.

Step 1 — Register with the Special Needs Registry now

Volusia and Flagler counties each maintain a Special Needs Registry for residents who would need help evacuating or sheltering during a hurricane. Registration is free and takes 15 minutes.

If your loved one meets any of these criteria, register them:

Requires oxygen or any electric-dependent medical equipment (CPAP, BiPAP, dialysis, ventilator, IV pump, electric wheelchair, refrigerated medications)
Has mobility limitations that make standard shelters difficult
Has cognitive impairment (dementia, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury) that requires supervision
Lacks a caregiver who can stay during/after the storm
Lives alone and has no transportation

How to register (Volusia)

Online: volusia.org/services/community-services/emergency-management/special-needs-registry/
Phone: (386) 254-1500
Mail: Volusia County Emergency Management, 3825 Tiger Bay Rd, Daytona Beach, FL 32124

How to register (Flagler)

Online: flaglercounty.gov/government/emergency-services/emergency-management/special-needs-program
Phone: (386) 313-4200

Once registered, your loved one is on the county's notification list — and if a storm requires evacuation, the county will dispatch help to that address. Some Volusia residents also get a county-coordinated ride to a Special Needs Shelter (different from the general public shelter — better staffed, with medical support).

This needs to happen before hurricane season. Mid-storm is too late. We can help complete the registration at no charge for any TrustWise client.

Step 2 — Build the medical "go bag"

Per Volusia County Emergency Management guidance, the go bag should include:

7-day medication supply in original prescription bottles
Written medication list — drug name, dose, time, prescribing doctor, pharmacy
Medical history summary — diagnoses, allergies, surgeries, blood type
Copy of insurance cards (Medicare, Medicaid, supplemental)
Copy of advance directives — living will, healthcare surrogate designation, DNR if applicable
List of physicians with phone numbers
Hearing aid batteries (entire season's worth)
Glasses spare pair
Dentures + container + adhesive
Mobility aids — cane, walker, transport chair
Incontinence supplies for 7 days
First aid supplies
Phone chargers — bring both wall and car
Flashlight + extra batteries
Cash — ATMs and credit card systems fail
Photo ID copy
Emergency contact list — printed, not just in the phone

Store this in a waterproof bag inside an easy-to-grab tote near the front door. Refresh medication and supplies every 30 days during hurricane season.

Step 3 — Plan the evacuation decision

Volusia County issues evacuation orders by zone: Zone A (barrier island including Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet, parts of Daytona Beach), Zone B (mainland coastal including Holly Hill, parts of Ormond), Zone C (low-lying inland), Zone D (manufactured/mobile homes). The zone is printed on your tax bill and on the county evacuation map.

The decision matrix:

Mandatory evacuation issued for your zone: Leave. Don't second-guess.
Voluntary evacuation issued for your zone: Leave if your loved one is on oxygen, has mobility limitations, lives in a mobile home, or is alone.
No evacuation order, but Category 3+ projected: Leave anyway if your loved one has any of the above conditions.
No evacuation order, Category 1–2 projected: Stay if your home is structurally sound and you have power continuity plans.

Leave early. I-95 northbound is gridlocked 24 hours before landfall. Buying gas, refilling prescriptions, withdrawing cash — all of it is harder in the last 24 hours.

Step 4 — Decide between Special Needs Shelter and family

If you must shelter outside the home:

Special Needs Shelter — operated by the county with medical staffing. To use, you must be pre-registered (Step 1 above). The county will tell you which shelter to go to and may provide transportation. Pets are not allowed at Special Needs Shelters; ask about the Pet-Friendly Shelter if needed.

Family or friend out of the evacuation zone — usually the better option if available. Pack for 5–7 days; storms often leave the area without power longer than expected. Drive 2+ hours inland to be clear of storm surge and tornado risk.

Hotel inland — book early. Hotels in Orlando, Lakeland, Gainesville, Jacksonville fill quickly. Many waive pet fees during evacuations.

Step 5 — Plan for power loss

If your loved one is sheltering in place and the home has electric-dependent medical equipment:

Oxygen concentrators: Coordinate with your oxygen supplier (Lincare, Apria, Rotech, etc.) 2 weeks before storm season for an emergency tank delivery plan. Most suppliers will pre-position portable tanks at the home for hurricane season.
CPAP/BiPAP: Battery backups exist (typically $300–$600). If using overnight only and only for moderate apnea, skipping for 2–3 days is medically tolerable in most cases — but confirm with the prescribing physician.
Refrigerated medications (insulin, certain biologics): Coolers with ice packs work for 24 hours. Beyond that, plan to relocate.
Dialysis: Coordinate with the dialysis center for a backup location. The Florida End Stage Renal Disease Network has hurricane protocols.
Powered wheelchairs: Charge fully before the storm. Plan for transfer to a manual chair if power is out >24 hours.
Whole-home generator: Worth the investment for medically-dependent residents. Cost: $4,000–$15,000 installed. Most insurance does not cover; ask about Florida's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for generator grants for qualified households.

Step 6 — Continuity of care planning

This is where most families get blindsided. If your loved one has scheduled caregiver visits, hurricane preparation needs to address:

Will the caregiver shelter with the client? Some caregivers will, with a written addendum. Compensation is typically continuous hours at the regular rate.
Will the caregiver evacuate to the same location? If family evacuates inland with the client, can the caregiver follow? Discuss before storm season.
If both caregiver and family leave separately: Who's checking on the home? Who's checking on the loved one wherever they go?
After the storm: When can caregivers safely return to the home? Volusia roads are often impassable for 1–3 days after a major storm.

We handle this for our clients with a Hurricane Continuity Plan signed annually. The plan specifies:

The loved one's evacuation destination
Who is the primary contact during the storm
Whether the caregiver is staying, evacuating with, or pausing
How shifts will resume after the all-clear
Backup caregiver assignments if the primary cannot return

Step 7 — Stay informed (real sources only)

In a storm, social media is wildly unreliable. Use:

National Hurricane Center — nhc.noaa.gov
Volusia County Emergency Management — Twitter @VolusiaEM, alertvolusia.com
Flagler County Emergency Management — flaglercounty.gov
NOAA Weather Radio — works without internet
WESH-2 / WFTV-9 / WKMG-6 — Orlando-market TV stations
News 13 / Spectrum — for cable subscribers

After the storm

Don't return until the county lifts the re-entry restriction. Florida law prohibits unauthorized travel into evacuation zones during recovery.
Power may be out 2–14 days depending on storm severity. Plan accordingly.
Water may be under a boil notice — drinking only bottled or boiled for 48+ hours.
Refrigerated food is safe for ~4 hours after power loss; frozen food for ~24 hours in a closed freezer. After that, discard.
Medications that should be refrigerated may still be usable; check with the pharmacist before discarding.

Bottom line

Hurricane season planning for a Volusia senior is a June 1 task, not an "October when the storms come" task. Special Needs Registry registration, oxygen supplier emergency plan, evacuation destination, and continuity of care should all be in writing before the season starts.

If you'd like our Hurricane Continuity Plan template (used internally for our clients), call us and we'll send it free of charge whether you're a client or not.

Reviewed by the TrustWise Care clinical team. This article is general guidance based on Volusia County Emergency Management protocols.

Hurricane Preparedness for Elderly Residents of Volusia County — 2026 Checklist