An evacuation shelter for people with special medical conditions only is now open on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. This is a shelter of last resort for people who currently receive in-home care and is not for the general public.
 
At 10:00 p.m. this evening, the medical special needs shelter opened in the Field House on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
 
This shelter is designed for individuals who are homebound, chronically ill or who have disabilities and are in need of medical or nursing care, and have no other place to receive care.
 
Those seeking shelter will be screened by nurses to determine the level of care needed. Only people who meet admission criteria can be sheltered.
 
To access the shelter, a patient or caregiver must first call this triage line phone number: 225-578-6383
 
For general information about the shelter, call 225-578-3928.
 
If a person’s condition is too critical and needs immediate medical attention, they will be referred to a hospital or their doctor. If their condition is not severe enough for the medical special needs shelter, they will be referred to a general shelter.
 
A medical special needs shelter is not designed for the general public or for nursing home patients. Nursing homes in Louisiana are required to have emergency evacuation plans in place that ensure the health and safety of their residents. In most instances, these plans allow for homes in affected areas to transport their patients to nursing homes in areas safe from the storm.
 
Health officials note that if individuals have health problems that require medical expertise and must evacuate, it is best for them to go with family members or caretakers north to areas that are out of harm’s way. These shelters will provide medical support services only. Shelterees are encouraged to bring their medical supplies and/or medications. 

 

In addition to the medical special needs shelter located at the LSU Field House, the Louisiana Department of Health has deployed medical strike teams, including mental health experts, to general population shelters. These teams assess the conditions of those displaced residents to determine if there is a need for medical or mental health care.

 
The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. To learn more about LDH, visit www.ldh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow LDH's Twitter account and Facebook.