If you live in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Plant City, Apollo Beach or anywhere else in Hillsborough County, hurricane season raises a hard question for families of autistic children: where would we go if we had to leave, and could my child cope there? Hillsborough County has a Special Needs Shelter Program, run with the Florida Department of Health. This guide explains what the county says about eligibility, how to register, what to bring and what your backup plans should be. Everything below comes from Hillsborough County's own emergency management pages, read on October 20, 2026. Check them again each spring, because details change.
Who runs emergency sheltering in Hillsborough County?
The county says its Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Office of Emergency Management "is responsible for planning and coordinating actions to prepare, respond, and recover from natural or man-made disasters" and runs the county Emergency Operations Center. The office's main number on the county website is (813) 272-6600.
Special needs registration is handled with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough), which the county lists at (813) 307-8063 for registration by phone.
The county operates three types of shelters during an emergency: general population shelters, pet-friendly shelters and special needs shelters.
What is a special needs shelter in Hillsborough?
The county defines it this way: "A special needs shelter is a temporary emergency facility capable of providing care to individuals with physical, cognitive, or medical conditions who may require assistance from medical professionals and to residents who require the use of medical equipment or devices. These shelters do not provide bedside nursing care or one to one care."
That last sentence matters for autistic children. Staff will not be able to supervise your child one-to-one. The county "highly encourage[s]" bringing one caregiver, and Florida law lets the caregiver of an eligible person, "and all persons for whom he or she is the caregiver," shelter together in a special needs shelter (s. 252.355(4), Florida Statutes).
According to the county, special needs shelters provide medical cots; linens, blankets and pillows; oxygen; generator power; and general and medical staff to assist the client and the client's caregiver. There are no fees.
Is my autistic child eligible?
Hillsborough says eligibility "may include, but is not limited to":
- a person with a stable medical condition that requires periodic observation, assessment and maintenance;
- a person requiring periodic wound care assistance;
- a person requiring assistance with oral, injectable or topical medication;
- a person medically dependent on uninterrupted electricity for therapies such as oxygen, nebulizers and feeding tubes;
- a person with mental or cognitive limitations requiring assistance; and
- a person requiring dialysis.
The fifth item is the one most relevant to autism, but it does not mean every autistic child qualifies. The county decides through an evaluation of your form, and anyone who arrives without registering is "triaged onsite to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria." A child with medical needs, such as seizures that need medication, a feeding tube or equipment that needs power, has a clearer case. A child whose main need is supervision may be directed to a general shelter. Register anyway, describe your child accurately, and plan a backup.
How do I register in Hillsborough?
The county lists three ways to complete the special needs "program evaluation form":
- Online (the county's preferred method) through the Florida Special Needs Registry at snr.flhealthresponse.com. Choose Hillsborough from the county list and create an account.
- Through your home health care provider, if your child has one.
- By phone with DOH-Hillsborough at (813) 307-8063.
The county asks you to "be as detailed as possible in the evaluation form to ensure an accurate eligibility assessment." After evaluation, "you will receive a status letter with more information about the program." The statewide registry also emails registrants periodically to confirm details are still correct.
Timing is important. The county says residents with special needs should pre-register "before the height of hurricane season," and that "when a storm is approaching and evacuation efforts begin, registration efforts stop." For general step-by-step help with the statewide form, see how to register for your county's special needs shelter.
What should I tell emergency management about my child?
The form is your chance to explain needs that are easy to miss. Be specific and factual:
- Communication: speaks, uses a few words, uses a device or picture cards; can or cannot ask for help.
- Supervision: needs an adult in sight at all times; has left safe places before; is drawn to water or roads.
- Medical needs: seizures, medicines and when they are given, allergies, feeding needs, any equipment that needs electricity.
- Sensory needs: reactions to noise, lights or crowds; what helps (headphones, a quiet corner, a weighted blanket).
- Mobility and transport: whether your family needs transportation to the shelter.
- Caregiver: who will stay with your child.
Registry records are confidential under s. 252.355(5), though they can be shared with emergency response agencies as the local emergency management director decides.
What should we bring to a Hillsborough special needs shelter?
The county says "shelter space is limited. Bring only one bag (not including medical equipment/supplies)." Its list includes medications and a list of medications, wound care supplies, bedding, a towel and washcloth, a change of clothing, a wheelchair or walker, and personal hygiene items. For an autistic child, add the essentials from a sensory go-kit: headphones, a comfort item, preferred non-perishable snacks, a charged device and power bank, and a printed "about me" page. See our sensory hurricane go-kit.
Pets: the county says "all special needs shelters are pet friendly." Service animals may stay with you; other pets are kenneled in a separate monitored room. Bring the kennel, food and supplies. The county lists Pet Resources at (813) 301-PETS (7387).
Can the county take us to the shelter?
Yes, if you need it. When you pre-register, "indicate if you need transportation." During an evacuation, the county says it "will arrange transportation with Sunshine Line to take you to your assigned shelter." Separately, HART provides free emergency evacuation bus service to shelters for people who need transportation; the county publishes HART evacuation routes on its evacuation page.
How do I find my evacuation zone?
Hillsborough uses five evacuation zones, A through E. You can look yours up with the county's Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT) or call the Office of Emergency Management at (813) 236-3800 for help with your zone or route, as listed on the county's special needs page. The county has posted 2025 and 2026 zone maps, including side-by-side comparisons for Thonotosassa, Apollo Beach and Town 'N Country, so check your zone again even if you looked it up before.
Sign up for HCFL Alert, the county's official notification system, to get "real-time information on when evacuation zones are called and when you have to go."
What if a special needs shelter is not the right fit?
The county is clear that public shelters are a last resort: "Residents should evacuate with friends or family or to a hotel/motel outside of the evacuation zone if possible." It also advises "evacuate tens of miles instead of hundreds of miles." Backup options to plan now:
| Option | What the county says | Autism planning tip |
|---|---|---|
| Stay home | Sheltering in place is "a practical option" if you are in a sound structure outside the evacuation area | Plan for power outages, heat and boredom; charge devices |
| Friends, family or a hotel | Preferred over public shelters, outside the evacuation zone | Familiar people help; book a quiet room early |
| General population shelter | No cots or blankets; about 20 square feet per person; transport "could take 90 minutes or longer" | Bring bedding, headphones, snacks and a portable door alarm |
| Pet-friendly shelter | Pets in crates with proof of rabies vaccination; owners and pets do not stay together | Prepare your child for the pet being in another room |
| Special needs shelter | For eligible residents; pre-registration preferred; no one-to-one care | A caregiver should stay; register before the season |
Never go to a shelter until officials announce it is open; the county opens shelters "on an 'as-needed' basis." Our hurricane preparedness checklist covers medicines, power and preparing your child, and the Hillsborough County autism resources guide lists other local supports.
How can Hope Center help Hillsborough families?
Hope Center has a center in Temple Terrace (9385 N 56th St, Suite 211) and provides ABA at home, in schools and daycares, and in the community across the Tampa area, including Plant City and Apollo Beach. Our BCBAs can build practice for storm-related skills, such as wearing headphones, waiting in line, sleeping in a new place and following a visual schedule, and parents are trained every week. Learn more about ABA therapy in Tampa, or contact us or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and a free insurance benefits check.