CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Central Point is home to the only Disaster Registry in the state of Oregon. Currently it services around 600 people in Jackson and Josephine counties.

“Disaster registry is a database of people that have requested to be in there because they would need special assistance during a disaster because they either could not evacuate themselves or they could not stay in their home for three days or they would need special notification because of a disability,” explained Connie Saldaña, the Senior and Disability Services Planner for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments.

Licensed care facilities are automatically signed up with the Disaster Registry but individuals can fill out a Disaster Registry form to become a part of the database.

The system is used multiple times a year and not only for wildfires, “A couple of years ago we had a big snowstorm and Search and Rescue was actually able to take medications out to two of our Disaster Registry people who couldn’t get out because of the snow,” says Saldaña.

The Disaster Registry can also be useful for first responders.

“Say an apartment building is on fire,” says Saldaña, “They (first responders) can look on the map and they can tell that somebody is in a particular room that would need special help.”

This week the Disaster Registry made calls to local resident care facilities, residents, and child care facilities during the Penninger Fire to ensure everyone was able to evacuate.