As Hurricane Milton nears, Florida’s hospitals take virtually extreme precautions to ensure the safety of the patients and staff.
From sheltering the families to sheltering pets and coordinating shifts of critical staff, the healthcare system stands in unshaken resilience against potential impact.
The hospitals along the path of Hurricane Milton are ready with careful preparations. Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the largest and safest hospital in the region, is all set to continue operating despite the hurricane’s strength.
“We’re on the highest ground here,” says David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, “We have too many patients to care for to consider evacuating.”.
With between 4,000 and 5,000 people expected to be on the premises, the hospital prepared for a week’s worth of food and water.
The two teams —Team A, which will be there during the storm, and Team B, which will take over afterward—have been assigned different shifts. “We hope they can reach us safely once it comes the time,” says Verinder.
The hospital has been very supportive of its employees by offering temporary shelters within the hospital and allowing staff members to bring their pets and children into the facility.
Hospitals like AdventHealth Tampa are working in the same ways elsewhere. B team member Dr. Alex Waldman spoke on his storm-related experiences and the importance of being agile when problems arise beyond imagination.
Apparently preparing for Milton, hospitals around Florida are doing everything they can to shield those in need, as the resilient community comes together.
