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1. The lights are out in my neighbor hood and its storming really bad. Should I call 911 to report the power is out?

No, you should call the power company that services your area.

2. Why does the fire department come when I call for an ambulance?

Fire departments provide first response to most medical emergencies.

3. If I dial 911 by mistake should I hang up or stay on the line?

Stay on the line and let the operator know it was a mistake. If you hang up, we will have to send a Law enforcement officer to your location.

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1. Why does Santa Rosa County have an Emergency Management Department?

In accordance with and pursuant to the authority of Chapter 252 of the Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners of Santa Rosa County established emergency management regulations to provide effective and orderly governmental control and coordination of emergency operations, and further to establish and maintain an emergency management agency in support of the state comprehensive emergency plan and program. The purpose and intent of this ordinance is to ensure that preparations of Santa Rosa County will be adequate to deal with, reduce vulnerability to and to recover from emergencies or threats thereof, in order to safeguard the life and property of its citizens.

2. What is an emergency operations center (EOC)?

An EOC is a facility designed to serve as a local or regional support center. EOCs represent the physical location at which the coordination of information and resources to support incident management activities normally takes place.

3. What should I do to prepare for a disaster?

Know what hazards can affect your area. Make a plan that will work for all hazards and discuss it with all family members. Keep a disaster kit (PDF). Resupply the kit when necessary. Listen to emergency officials and local media for information.

4. How can I tell if I have to evacuate for a hurricane?

Evacuation Zones are designated depending on the strength of the storm based on the storm tidal surge.

5. How will I be notified to evacuate?

Depending on the type of incident, notification to evacuate can come from several sources. You may be notified by telephone through an automated system, news media or emergency responders may drive and give instructions over a loud speaker.

6. Where are the evacuation shelters located and what do I need to take when I go to a shelter?

See the shelters page on this web site.

7. What do I do with my pet?

Taking care of your pet in an emergency needs to be part of your emergency plan. Have food, water, sanitation and first aid items for your pet. If you must evacuate, take your pet with you. Learn more about taking care of your pets during an emergency.

8. What is Mitigation?

Mitigation is defined as any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from a hazardous event. The goal of mitigation is to decrease the need for response as opposed to simply increasing the response capability.

9. What is the National Flood Insurance Program?

The program helps state, counties, municipalities and agencies to develop, implement and maintain appropriate floodplain management regulations. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) NFIP offers federally backed insurance money to communities that agree to adopt and enforce minimum standards for flood plain management to reduce future flood damage. More information.

10. What should I do if my child is at school or daycare during an emergency or evacuation?

All schools and daycare facilities are required to have emergency procedures that address safety, emergency provisions, evacuations, school lockdowns and plans for reuniting parents with students. Make sure you are familiar with their plan and incorporate it into your family plan.

11. What protective actions should I take in the event of a tornado?

The majority of injuries and deaths related to tornadoes occur as a result of flying debris, collapse of buildings or structures, or being caught in an automobile. The best protection is to get in an interior room on the lowest level of a building. Mobile homes and automobiles are particularly vulnerable and should be avoided. If outdoors, a low area away from trees, such as a drainage ditch should be sought for protection.

12. If I have special medical needs do I go to a regular public shelter?

Persons with impairments, who are self-sufficient and capable of performing activities of daily living without assistance would go to a general public shelter. Those with special needs that would require assistance with medical care would be sheltered in a Special Needs Shelter. A care-giver must stay with you at the shelter.

13. How long before the Fire or Police will come and check on me?

Depending on the type of disaster this could be minutes or days. In an emergency, these "first responders" assess the extent of the disaster, determine priorities for resources and begin rescue operations. Everyone needs to be ready to take care of themselves for 3 to 5 days. Make a plan, make a kit and stay informed.

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1. Do you live in a mobile or manufactured home?

If yes, then you should always evacuate.

2. Do you live in an evacuation zone?

If you don't know your zone, you can find it by typing your address in our know your zone app. Be ready to follow the evacuation orders issued by officials for your zone.

3. Do you know where the public shelters are located?

Santa Rosa County does not have any hurricane shelters south of Interstate 10 because that area is the area of greatest risk. This is not only because of storm surge or wind damage but also the possibility of roads and areas becoming impassable or inaccessible for emergency services being able to reach you.

4. Do you have special needs or vulnerabilities?

Make sure you have a plan and if you need to go to the Special Needs Shelter, you must be pre-registered. You can register online, by phone or by mail.

5. Do you need to go to the Pet-Friendly Shelter?

Make sure you have your pet pre-registered and understand the procedures for the pet-friendly shelter. You must stay at the shelter with your pet.

6. Do you require transportation to a shelter?

Before an evacuation is ordered, pre-register by calling 850-983-5360. If an evacuation has already been ordered, call 850-983-INFO (4636) to arrange transportation.

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1. What is the Special Needs Registry?

The Special Needs Registry allows residents with medical needs an opportunity to provide information to Santa Rosa County so that agencies can communicate emergency preparedness, response and recovery resources to our vulnerable at risk and hard-to-reach residents. The information collected will only be shared with Santa Rosa County and interacting agencies to improve their ability to serve and will not be available to the public. F.S.252.355

2. What is a Special Needs Shelter?

Special Needs Shelters are temporary, emergency-type facilities capable of providing special/supervised housing to individuals whose physical or mental condition exceeds the Red Cross Disaster Health Services' level of capability for basic first aid in emergency / disaster shelters but is not severe enough to require hospitalization. Special Needs Shelters are intended to provide an environment of those requiring limited medical assistance or surveillance due to a pre-existing health problem. It is highly encouraged to seek shelter outside the area of danger. Sheltering whether it is a Special Needs Shelter or a General Shelter should be your shelter of last resort.

3. What process is used to determine Special Needs Sheltering?

Santa Rosa County Division of Emergency Management maintains the Special Needs registry. Pre-registering is a must for the Special Needs Shelter. Upon receiving the application, the address and appropriate fire department are verified, along with whether the applicant lives in an evacuation and / or flood zone. Santa Rosa County Department of Health reviews the medical portion of the application to assign the most appropriate shelter to meet the applicants' needs. This is why it is of the utmost importance to list all of the applicant's medical history. Once the application is returned to the Division of Emergency Management the information is entered in the database. The applicant will be sent a copy of original application with shelter assignment.

4. How often do I have to register or update my Special Needs application?

Bi-yearly the Division of Emergency Management will contact you to update your application to verify if your medical needs have changed. A copy of your old application will be mailed to you to review for accuracy. You can either make corrections on the application and mail back to the Division of Emergency Management or call the office and request to speak to the Special Needs Coordinator to make the changes on your application.

5. Do I qualify for Special Needs Sheltering?

Special Needs Shelters are designed for people whose age, frailty, mobility, functional and / or medical disability make them particularly vulnerable and at risk in disaster situations. Special Needs Shelters are designed for those individuals who have pre-existing conditions resulting in medical impairments and who have been able to maintain activities of daily living in a home environment prior to the disaster or emergency situations.

6. Will I be notified of a pending disaster?

Division of Emergency Management will make every effort of contacting the Special Needs client should a disaster be pending or occurring in their area. The Special Needs client may be asked to prepare to evacuate to a shelter if time permits or should the disaster be of a hazardous type incident they may be advised to shelter in place. Depending on what type of disaster and time, notification may occur through individual telephone calls, local media, emergency responders and / or Reverse 911 (high speed citizen notification system).

7. What if I need transportation to the Special Needs Shelter?

Be sure to mark "yes" on the Special Needs application when you submit the Special Needs application to the Division of Emergency Management. Should transportation not have been needed at the time you completed the application but you need it now to get to the shelter, be sure to advise the person calling you notifying you of a pending disaster that you will need transportation. Transportation is furnished through Santa Rosa County School District Transportation Department and Lifeguard Ambulance Service.

8. Can I go to the Special Needs Shelter if I reside in an Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home?

Licensed healthcare facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, etc.) are required to manage their own facilities and have plans for the safety and well-being of their clients and staff. If you or a loved one are living at a healthcare facility review their evacuation plans. Chapter 119, F.S. (2006).

9. Can I receive my hemodialysis treatments at the Special Needs Shelter?

Hemodialysis is not provided at the Special Needs Shelter. Coordinate with your dialysis center on their plans to assure you are able to have your scheduled treatments. Contact your home medical equipment provider on their plan to assure you will have the same care prior, during and after a disaster. Section 400.925(13) and Section 400.934(20)(a)1.,F.S. Specific Authority 381.0303(6)(d), F.S. Law Implemented 381.0303(d), F.S. History-New

10. What is a Caregiver?

A caregiver whether a relative, or paid employee who will remain with you throughout your stay at the Special Needs Shelter. They will furnish supportive care such as assuming primary responsibility for assisting the shelteree to the bathroom, with meals, and care. They will assume responsibility for administering routine medications as in the home setting and will assume responsibility for managing oxygen and equipment.

11. Why do I need a Caregiver?

The nursing staff at the shelter is very limited, a caregiver is to take care of your needs as they would in your home environment. The nursing staff is there to assist should your medical needs exceed your caregiver's medical training / knowledge.

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1. What is enhanced 911?

Enhanced 911, or E911, is a system which routes an emergency call to the appropriate 911 center, and automatically displays the caller's phone number and address. The 911 call taker will typically ask the caller to verify this information, which appears on his or her computer screen. In Santa Rosa County, all 911 calls are routed to the Santa Rosa County Emergency Management Communications Center, except calls placed within the City of Gulf Breeze. At both of these agencies, you will be asked what type of assistance you need in order to direct you to the appropriate personnel.

2. Where does 911 get funding from?

Each household or business pays a monthly fee of $0.50 for 911 service on each telephone line that appears on their phone bill. There is no per-call charge for calling 911.

3. When should I call 911?

Nine-one-one is only to be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police / sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 911. It's better to be safe and let the 911 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.

If you call 911 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so they know there really isn't an emergency.

4. What if I want to test my 911 service or show my child how to use 911?

It is not uncommon for people to test their phone by calling 911 or teach their child how to dial 911 by having them actually call and speak to the dispatcher. While we certainly do not want to discourage anyone from using the 911 system, these types of non-emergency calls can delay service to emergencies.

If you would like to test your phone for 911 service or show someone how to properly dial 911, please contact the center using the non-emergency number and advise them of your intentions. If they are not busy, they will gladly assist you.

5. 911 caller doesn't speak English?

When receiving a 911 call from a caller speaking a foreign language, the call taker can add an interpreter from an outside service to the line. A non-English speaking caller may hear a short conversation in English and some clicking sounds as the interpreter is added to the line. The interpreter will be speaking to the caller as an extension of the 911 call taker and will repeat exactly what is said between the parties.

6. What if a 911 caller is deaf, or hearing / speech impaired?

Santa Rosa County has the ability to answer 911 calls using special telephone software for responding to 911 calls from Deaf or hearing / speech impaired callers.

If a caller uses a TTY / TDD, the caller should:

• Stay calm, place the phone receiver in the TTY, dial 911.
• After the call is answered, press the TTY keys several times. This may help shorten the time necessary to respond to the call.
• Give the call taker time to connect their TTY. If necessary, press the TTY keys again.
• You should be asked what service is needed-police, fire department, or ambulance. Give your name, phone number and the address where help is needed.
• Stay on the telephone if it is safe. Answer the call taker's questions.

If a Deaf or hearing / speech impaired caller doesn't have a TTY / TDD, the caller should call 911 and don't hang up. Not hanging up leaves the line open. With most 911 calls, the caller's address is displayed on the call taker's screen and help will be sent.

7. What happens when I dial 911 from my cell phone?

Santa Rosa County has implemented Phase I and Phase II wireless service throughout the County.

With Phase I service, the dispatcher receives your phone number and the direction you are from the tower where your call was received. With Phase II service, the dispatcher receives your phone number and the approximate latitude and longitude of where you are calling from.

It is very important that you be able to provide your location when calling from a cell phone as well as your phone number in case the connection is lost.

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1. Do you have a mosquito problem?

The Santa Rosa County Mosquito Control is offering a free home mosquito inspection program. If you desire for someone to help you locate breeding sites around your home call 850-981-7135.

2. What is Arboviral Encephalitis?

Encephalitis is a serious inflammation (swelling) of the brain. Arboviral encephalitis is caused by an insect (mosquito)-borne virus. In the United States, these diseases include St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis, LaCrosse Encephalitis, and recently, West Nile Virus Encephalitis (WNV).

SLE is the most common of these diseases in Florida. In an average year, one to 10 cases of SLE are reported. Several large outbreaks involving as many as 200 cases have occurred in the state in recent decades.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

EEE occurs sporadically in Florida. Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of horses. Transmission of the disease from horse to horse to humans is highly unlikely. The mortality rate for infected horses is 50 to 90%. Vaccinating horses properly will prevent them from contracting the disease. Symptoms of the disease in horses include:

• Fever
• Impaired vision
• Inability to swallow
• Irregular gait
• Occasional convulsions
• Reduced reflexes
• Sometimes death

In rare cases, humans may contract the disease. The disease is most commonly detected in horses from April through August

3. What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus infection?

Most people who are infected with the West Nile Virus will not have any type of illness. It is estimated that 20% of the people who become infected will develop West Nile fever; mild symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.

Severe Symptoms

The symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis) include:

• Coma
• Convulsions
• Disorientation
• Headache
• High fever
• Muscle weakness
• Neck stiffness
• Paralysis
• Stupor
• Tremors

It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease.

4. What is the incubation period in humans?

From the time of infection to onset of the disease symptoms for West Nile encephalitis is usually 3 to 14 days.

5. How long do symptoms last?

Symptoms of mild disease will generally last a few days. Symptoms of severe disease may last several weeks, although neurological effects may be permanent.

6. I think I have symptoms of West Nile virus. What should I do?

Contact your health care provider if you have concerns about your health. If you or your family members develop symptoms such as high fever, confusion, muscle weakness, severe headaches, you should see your doctor immediately.

7. What are the symptoms of Arboviral Encephalitis?

Many people may not even know they are infected with an arbovirus. When symptoms do occur, they may include

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Weakness

WNV may also cause rash or muscle weakness. People 50 and older tend to be more severely affected by SLE or WNV. The most severe cases can lead to coma and death.

8. Are there vaccines for arboviruses?

There are no human vaccines against St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), or West Nile Virus Encephalitis (WNV).

9. How do we know that arboviruses are in the area and that people might become infected?

SLE, EEE and WNV pass back and forth between birds and mosquitoes. Mosquito control agencies located throughout the state monitor mosquito populations. When the virus is detected, mosquito control activities are increased-press releases and public education activities are issued to increase awareness of personal protective measures.

Other Questions?

If you have additional questions you may call the Mosquito Control Department at 850-981-7135 or email Keith Hussey.