As Hurricanemilton approaches Florida, the windows in the evacuee house narrow

Florida Hurricane Mitigation Plan: Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, and Emergency Medical Services are Shutdown Until a Clear Wind Comes Through

People in Florida are running out of time to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall along the state’s western coastline, now expected as early as Wednesday night.

The National Hurricane Center said that the storm had maximum sustained wind speeds of 160 miles per hour. It was 300 miles southwest of Tampa and traveling at 14 mph. Multiple hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge advisories are in effect in coastal areas in western Florida. The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm surge could get as high as 15 feet in some places, and rainfall totals could reach 18 inches.

The west coast of Florida is under storm surge warnings from Flamingo northward to Yankeetown. Hurricane warnings are in effect for Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay. The east coast from the state’s north to Ponte Vedra Beach has been placed under a hurricane warning.

“Wherever the eye of the storm is, there’s going to be impacts far beyond that,” he said Tuesday. “You should be executing your plan now. Get out now if you’re going to get out. You have time today. Time will be running out very shortly if you wait any longer.”

Tampa General Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Milton’s path, will remain open and has activated its hurricane-preparedness plan. The academic health system is the only trauma center in the region and is prepared to give care to any patients who need it after the storm has passed. Health care providers and staff who are trained in emergency management will remain on-site throughout the storm to care for patients. As soon as the storm passes, more providers and staff will come back to work.

Patients are being transferred to other facilities at affected hospitals. Nearly 600 vehicles have been deployed to move patients out of harms way, according to Florida’s chief of emergency medical oversight. He said this was the largest amount of people evacuated ever.

HCA Florida Healthcare, a network of hospitals and physician practices that operates across the state, said Tuesday afternoon that it is temporarily closing or suspending services at several hospitals and emergency rooms. “Once the patient transfers are complete, the hospitals will be temporarily closed and will reopen when it is safe to do so following the storm,” the health care system said in a statement.

Hospitals that remain open have implemented flood-mitigation plans, moved electrical equipment away from flood areas, and stocked supplies that may be needed in an emergency.

The hospital at sea level is protected by several systems and has a central energy plant that can provide a power supply in the event of power disruption, which is 33 feet above sea level. According to Tampa General, the energy plant was built to withstand the impact and flooding of a Category 5 hurricane. The hospital has food and other supplies on site for more than five days.