Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm Sept. 26, resulting in flooding and widespread power outages across the state.
As hospitals across the Southeast continue to assess the damage and prepare for an influx of patients, the storms' death toll has climbed. As of mid-day Sept. 27, at least 22 deaths were reported across Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, according to The New York Times.
Seven updates:
1. Given the severity and breadth of the storm, 64 out of 67 counties in Florida were under a hurricane or tropical storm warning, leaving much of the state vulnerable to flooding. In total, eight Florida hospitals evacuated ahead of the storm, and four hospitals switched to back-up generators the night of Sept. 26. As of noon ET on Sept. 27, nearly 900,000 Florida residents didn't have power, according to poweroutage.us.
2. Most hospitals in the South Atlantic states that did not evacuate before the storm remain operational. However, Ballad Health's Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tenn., was forced to commence an emergency evacuation Sept. 27 amid flooding from a nearby river. Due to rapidly rising water levels, ambulances and rescue boats were not able to safely reach the facility to evacuate patients. High winds also prevented helicopters from airlifting out patients. As of 12:27 p.m. CT, 54 people were relocated to the hospital's roof, awaiting rescue from the National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, according to a news release shared with Becker's.
3. Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, said it's still too soon to understand the full extent of the storm's impact on hospitals, employees and healthcare services. The association is not aware of any major supply disruptions, and Ms. Mayhew said she is optimistic that there will not be widespread hurdles in accessing inpatient hospital care.
"I've communicated with many of the hospitals in areas most impacted by the storm," she told Becker's Sept. 27. "They're ready to deal with the continued focus on their existing patients and any of the individuals that may be in need as a result of the storm."
4. Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital, the region's only level 1 trauma center, said its power remained on throughout the storm and that it has adequate supplies to support continued operations. In addition, the AquaFence constructed around its main campus perimeter effectively prevented flooding during the hurricane.
"I am grateful to all the physicians and team members who remained on-site through the hurricane, and for the exceptional care they continued to provide here while their families sheltered safely at home or away," Tampa General CEO John Couris said in a Sept. 27 news release. "Because of these efforts, patients at Tampa General are safe, and we are preparing to care for Floridians in the hardest-hit communities."
5. Before the hurricane's landfall, Ms. Mayhew warned that the storm-related flooding could disrupt outpatient healthcare services for millions across the Southeast. Emergency response teams and first responders are assessing the degree of flooding in communities and bridge or road closures, which will offer a better view into potential disruptions.
6. The other main focus for hospitals in the coming days will be understanding the extent of the hurricane's impact on employees and their homes.
"It is still too soon to know the impact," Ms. Mayhew said. "The closer you are to the coast, the more we will see significant damage to homes, particularly because of the surge."
Hospitals will be highly focused on supporting their teams and ensuring adequate staffing to meet future healthcare demands, she added.
7. Hurricane Helene is the fourth hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast this year, according to CBS News. Ms. Mayhew credited the effective response of hospitals and health systems to their thorough preparation efforts throughout the year, which include comprehensive emergency preparedness training, collaboration with emergency management officials and contingency staffing strategies.