The governor of Georgia issued a state of emergency Dec. 13 after flooding damaged 222 inpatient rooms at Atlanta-based Grady Memorial Hospital, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
The executive order, signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, directs state resources to Grady after a water pipe burst Dec. 7 and "irreparably damaged" part of the facility's electrical system, the AJC reports.
"Due to the increased patient load, other metropolitan Atlanta hospital systems are now at capacity and implementing or contemplating implementation of diversion protocols," the executive order reads, cited by the AJC. "Assistance from the state of Georgia is necessary to provide for the public's safety and restore the social and economic welfare of the affected county."
The hospital intends to use a 30-bed mobile hospital to treat some patients, John Haupert, Grady Memorial CEO, announced at a news conference Dec. 13. It will take about a week to transport the unit from North Carolina to Grady.
Grady is only accepting trauma, stroke and burn patients, Denise Simpson, a hospital spokesperson, told the AJC Dec. 12. The hospital will also operate the Atlanta Metro EMS coordination center to help transport patients to the appropriate hospital, she said.
Electrical repairs could take up to three weeks, Mr. Haupert said, adding that engineers are investigating the cause of the burst pipe so the hospital can ensure it doesn't happen again.
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