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How Florida's Health Systems Is Preparing for Hurricane Milton

How Florida's Health Systems Is Preparing for Hurricane Milton

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene battered the state, Florida is bracing for yet another major storm. Over 350 healthcare facilities, including 23 hospitals and freestanding hospital emergency departments, have been forced to evacuate in anticipation of Hurricane Milton, which strengthened to a Category 5 storm before dropping to a still-powerful Category 3. Officials have focused evacuations in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, encompassing the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa, which are projected to face the brunt of the storm.


Mary Mayhew, President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, highlighted the increased vulnerability due to lingering impacts from Hurricane Helene. “The challenge as a result of Helene is that those areas that are likely to be significantly impacted by Milton are still contending with debris everywhere—sand and other materials clogging drains,” Mayhew said. “Milton is forecasted to have a significant surge along the coast and a volume of rain, so the vulnerability to extreme flooding is significant.”


Hurricane Milton, which quickly intensified over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. While it is anticipated to weaken slightly before hitting the coastline, the National Weather Service warned that it remains “a very large and powerful hurricane … with life-threatening hazards at the coastline and well inland.” Unlike Helene, which primarily affected states north of Florida, Hurricane Milton is forecasted to move east through Florida and exit into the Atlantic.


The rapid turnaround from Hurricane Helene has left officials and healthcare providers particularly worried about saturated groundwater, compromised infrastructure, and uncleared debris, all of which could compound the damage. “That creates a huge hazard,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed a state of emergency declaration for 51 counties on Monday. During recent addresses, the governor noted that hospitals are a top priority alongside other critical infrastructure. Florida’s Department of Health has deployed nearly 700 emergency response vehicles, including more than 350 ambulances, to support first responders in evacuation and emergency efforts.


The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) reported on Tuesday that it has received reports of 352 healthcare facility evacuations, including 16 hospitals, seven freestanding hospital emergency departments, 200 assisted living facilities, and 67 nursing homes. AHCA has also made nearly 700 calls to healthcare providers to coordinate preparations and is working closely with the Florida Hospital Association and the Florida Healthcare Association to ensure clear communication.


Efforts to sustain operations and minimize disruptions to patient care are in full swing. While hospitals avoided “any significant damage to their physical plant” during Hurricane Helene, according to Mayhew, the facilities are still contending with the aftermath, particularly the impact on their staff. Many employees’ homes were severely affected, complicating the ability to maintain full staffing. “The ability to staff and support our employees is critically important as we brace for Milton,” she said.


A significant challenge facing hospitals is a shortage of IV solutions after Hurricane Helene shut down a plant supplying over 60% of the country's needs. Mayhew emphasized that further disruptions to the supply chain, including fuel for hospital generators, could exacerbate the situation. Preparations to secure and maintain critical supplies are a priority, though some concerns will only be fully addressed after Milton’s impact is assessed.


HCA Florida Healthcare, a 48-hospital subsidiary of HCA Healthcare, is actively relocating patients from five of its most threatened hospitals: HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital, HCA Florida Largo West Hospital, HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital, and HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital. HCA’s broader preparations are being managed by its Enterprise Emergency Operations Center in Nashville, which has a nearly 200-person multidisciplinary team ensuring that hospitals are equipped with staff, medications, supplies, food, water, and generator power to continue operations during and after the storm.


Tampa General Hospital, the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, announced that it will remain open and is prepared to handle the emergency. “As we demonstrated with Hurricane Helene, we are ready to meet the needs of patients throughout the state who require care after the storm has passed,” the hospital stated. The organization has activated its emergency response plan and implemented measures such as its central energy plant and “AquaFence” barrier, designed to withstand up to 15-foot storm surges.


BayCare Health System has initiated an evacuation of Morton Plant North Bay Hospital and canceled elective procedures at multiple facilities for Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, AdventHealth North Pinellas hospital announced its temporary closure until conditions are safe, though its emergency room will remain open. Other healthcare providers, like UF Health, are monitoring the situation and adjusting operations as needed.


As Hurricane Milton approaches, Florida’s healthcare system is once again being put to the test. The focus now is on sustaining operations, supporting staff, and ensuring patient safety amid what could be one of the most challenging hurricane seasons in recent history.



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