The Emergency & Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP) provides free evacuation assistance to eligible residents living in Miami-Dade County who need specialized transportation and/or sheltering or who would like to receive a wellness call after a disaster.
Prior to an emergency, residents who may require medical monitoring, assistance with daily living or have life-saving medical equipment dependent on electricity should register for the EEAP to ensure help is available when needed. Pre-registered residents will receive priority during an emergency. It may also be utilized post-disaster to provide other assistance.
This program is for individuals who live alone or with families and may have access/functional needs. Residents living in long term care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities or group homes are not eligible for this program as these facilities are required by law to develop an emergency plan and provide emergency assistance for their clients.
When an emergency arises, pre-registered residents will have priority over those who have not registered for the program.
Related FAQs
You are eligible for this program if any of the following conditions apply:
You are unable to evacuate on your own due to a specialized transportation need.
You are homebound and unable to walk to a bus pickup point and do not have anyone who can provide transportation.
You have medical needs that prevent you from evacuating on your own.
You are bedbound.
You are on life-sustaining medical equipment that requires electricity.
You require assistance with daily living activities.
Residents living in residential health care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities or group homes do not qualify for this program as these facilities are required by law to develop an emergency plan and provide emergency assistance for their clients.
The program offers:
Specialized transportation
Safe shelter
Medical monitoring
Wellness checks
A caregiver or companion is required to accompany the evacuee throughout the emergency period to ensure the evacuee’s needs are met in a timely manner.
The EEAP may be used for emergencies that occur in Miami-Dade County, such as:
Hurricanes or tornadoes
Chemical or Hazardous material releases (e.g., industrial accident or act of terrorism)
Wildfires
Prolonged widespread power outages
Radiological releases (e.g., from a nuclear power plant incident or act of terrorism)
Emergency evacuation centers are intended as a refuge of last resort for those who do not have an alternate safe location for evacuation. They do not offer the same level of care or equipment as health care facilities.
How to apply
Individuals may apply throughout the year to become enrolled in the EEAP. Residents only need to apply once to be a life-long member of the program.
Register online or download an application below, completely fill it out and mail it. You can also call 311 to have an application sent to you in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole or in an alternate format such as Braille or large print.
If more than one eligible person living in the same household requires assistance during evacuations, each person must complete and submit a separate application.
If you require a higher level of medical care, your primary care physician should complete and sign the application before submission.
Registration (online and paper application) for the EEAP closes before an evacuation order is pronounced. Do not wait until an evacuation order is issued to request to be added to the EEAP Registry.
After you apply:
The Emergency Management Department or support personnel may contact you to verify your registration information.
You will receive a letter letting you know if you have been accepted into the program. This letter will include the evacuation assistance you are eligible to receive and your responsibilities.
You will be contacted throughout the year to update your personal contact and medical information. You do not need to complete an application every year, but it is the responsibility of you or your caregiver to report any changes. If your contact or medical information changes or you would like to be removed from the EEAP, please email eeap@miamidade.gov or call the support line at (305) 513-7700.
When an emergency arises, pre-registered residents will have priority over those who have not registered for the program.
Residents not currently enrolled in the EEAP, who need emergency and evacuation assistance, should call 311 to request assistance. Contacting the 311 Contact Center does not guarantee that a resident will receive assistance in the event of an emergency or are enrolled in the EEAP. Residents who have not pre-registered with the EEAP are encouraged to seek alternate transportation and sheltering arrangements with family and friends.
Individuals enrolled in the Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP) will be contacted by phone, text or other method of communication to coordinate assistance when an evacuation order is issued to determine what specialized sheltering and/or transportation services are needed. You will be informed which facility you will be evacuated to and a time frame for your pick-up.
It is the EEAP client’s or caregiver/companion’s responsibility to monitor the media for updated information on what actions they may need to take. The individual and caregiver/companion must also be prepared to evacuate when transportation arrives along with their readiness kits. If they miss their scheduled pickup, there may not be time for a second attempt.
All EEAP clients must bring the following in the event of an evacuation:
You must be accompanied at all times by a caregiver or companion
Comfort items in one carrier (e.g. pillows, linens, blankets, cot, air mattress, sleeping bag, folding chair, change of clothing, toiletries)
Minimum one-week (7 day) supply of all your medications and specific medication instructions
Minimum three (3) day supply of food and water for you and your caregiver/companion (special dietary foods, if required)
Names and telephone numbers of your emergency contacts and neighbors
To request a Hurricane Readiness Guide in an alternate format, such as Braille or large print, call 311 or send an email to eoc@miamidade.gov.
When an emergency threatens the County, EEAP clients may be contacted via phone, text or other method of communication to coordinate transportation and sheltering accommodations, as well as receive important notifications.
Individuals may also be contacted throughout the year to verify that all contact and medical information is current.
Automated call downs may also be programmed to send important messages to residential healthcare facilities who have emergency plans submitted to the County's Emergency Management Department.
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