DOH-Escambia Opens Special Needs Shelter at Wagner Road Location

The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County opened a Special Needs Shelter on Thursday at the Marie K. Young-Wedgewood Community Center and Park, located at 6405 Wagner Road in Pensacola. The shelter is designed to serve people with stable impairments or disabilities whose care needs go beyond basic first aid available at general shelters.

The facility opened at 3 p.m. today and can accommodate residents whose medical requirements exceed what standard emergency shelters provide. DOH-Escambia notes that nursing staff at the location is limited, so shelter attendees are strongly encouraged to bring a caregiver. Staff will be available to assist when medical needs exceed a caregiver's training or knowledge.

Residents planning to use the shelter should arrive prepared with bedding, food and water for up to seven days, medications and medical supplies for that same period, toiletries, and clothing. Each person should plan to bring one gallon of water per day for a week-long stay. Service animals are permitted in the shelter space; other pets will be housed in a separate animal shelter area at the same location. More details about pet requirements are available on the Escambia County Emergency Management website.