Hurricane Milton was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds close to 155 mph as of 8 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of FloridaHospitals and other health care facilities on Florida's Gulf Coast - still reeling from Hurricane Helene - are now revving up for Hurricane Milton.
Health officials are using almost 600 vehicles to take patients out of the storm's path, tracking them with blue wristbands that show where they were evacuated from and where they are being sent. They plan to keep getting patients out through the night, until winds reach sustained speeds of 40 mph and driving conditions become unsafe.
"While AquaFence has proven effective in the past, it is just the first line of defense and one of many mitigation efforts we've implemented this week to safely continue care for our patients," said Jennifer Crabtree, chief of staff at Tampa General. Hospitals are shuttering nearby, but Sarasota Memorial Health Care System also plans to stay open through the storm and shelter in place, Verinder said. Still, "we are concerned about the many unknowns," he said.
Dr. Matt Shannon, director of community emergency medicine at University of Florida Health, said the state's flagship is prepared to take patients. "We want to remind you that all emergencies are local," said Emmett Reed, CEO of the Florida Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes and assisted living providers in the state. "You need to start with your local emergency office to report any questions you might have."
Deborah Franklin, a member of the Florida Health Care Association's emergency response team, said centers should be printing resident documents, including medications, dietary restrictions and more, even if they are not in the worst of the hurricane's path. She also urged staff to consider the mental health of their residents, some of whom are moving for the second time in just a few weeks.
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