Voluntary Registries
Many local jurisdictions maintain voluntary registries of individuals who may require additional assistance during an emergency. The registries may include information about special medical needs, disability, and other information. There is some disagreement about the value of such registries. Below are some of the pros and cons.
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CONS |
- Provides emergency planners and responders with specific information to identify individuals who may need evacuation, sheltering, or special medical assistance.
- Provides an opportunity for pre-event planning and education with at-risk individuals and groups.
- Information from registry can be available immediately to responders.
- May facilitate or enhance collaboration between agencies (e.g., local health department, emergency management).
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- A significant number of at-risk individuals could be missing from registry. It is difficult to determine exactly how many are missing.
- Can create an expectation of care that may be unrealistic (i.e., participating in a registry is not a guarantee of care).
- May require significant resources to create registry database and maintain up-to-date information.
- Requires provisions to protect confidential information.
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