Hospitals across the northeastern Gulf Coast and Southeast are preparing for a "catastrophic and deadly storm surge" as Hurricane Helene approaches landfall, CBS News reported Sept. 26.
Eight notes:
1. The hurricane is expected to reach Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 3 storm or higher in the late evening of Sept. 26 or early morning of Sept. 27.
"A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves," the National Weather Service said Sept. 25. "There is also a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the remainder of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula."
2. Hospitals are preparing for severe disruptions to water, power and cell phone services, along with flooding risks, The Washington Post reported Sept. 26. Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, warned that the hurricane could disrupt healthcare services for millions across the Southeast, including areas outside the immediate hurricane zone, due to potential flooding.
3. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a public health emergency in Florida Sept. 26, which follows President Joe Biden's emergency declaration made two days earlier. The new declaration grants healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in addressing the emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid patients, according to a Sept. 26 news release. HHS' Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response also deployed about 150 clinicians and disaster management professionals to Florida and Alabama — along with additional medical equipment and supplies — to assist in the aftermath of the storm.
4. As the region's only level 1 trauma center, Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital plans to remain open. The health system constructed an "AquaFence" around vulnerable areas of its main campus to protect against flooding. The barrier can withstand a storm surge up to 15 feet above sea level, the hospital said.
5. Essential healthcare workers and support staff with emergency management training arrived at Tampa General at 7 a.m. on Sept. 26 and are expected to remain on-site for the duration of the storm, according to the Post. The hospital has stockpiled food, water and supplies on site. It also has a central energy plant, constructed in 2022, to provide a reliable power source in the event of outages. The $54 million plant is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.
6. Outside its main campus, Tampa General Hospital has temporarily closed more than a dozen care sites ahead of the storm, most of which are clinics, outpatient surgery centers or imaging and endoscopy centers. Tampa General Hospital Crystal River (Fla.) and its emergency center will also be closed Sept. 26. Pending damage from the storm, the system aims to reopen most sites Sept. 27.
"As the region's only level 1 trauma center, the academic health system stands ready to meet the needs of patients throughout the state who require care after the storm has passed," the hospital said Sept. 26.
7. Smaller hospitals in the storm's path have opted to evacuate patients and temporarily close. HCA Florida Healthcare, which operates 46 hospitals in the state, said it has suspended operations and transferred all patients from several hospitals to sister facilities "as a necessary step in responding to Tropical Storm Helene." Evacuated hospitals include St. Petersburg Hospital, South Tampa Hospital, West Tampa Hospital and Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg. HCA Florida has created a patient reunification hotline to help families reconnect with loved ones who were transferred to other facilities because of the storm.
8. Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta has also closed some sites and postponed elective procedures in anticipation of the storm traveling northeast from Florida. The hospital has temporarily closed clinics and neighborhood health centers through Sept. 27 and rescheduled all elective and nonurgent procedures slated for Sept. 27.
"Grady Hospital will remain open and operational regardless of severe weather conditions," the health system told Becker's on Sept. 25. "Grady's leadership and emergency management team will closely monitor the latest weather developments."