Rainfall forecast for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday or early Thursday. (National Hurricane Center)
This story was updated at 7:31 p.m. Tuesday
Florida’s health care providers are girding to respond quickly to the “ferocious” Hurricane Milton, which is expected to tear into the state on Wednesday.
More than 300 health care facilities have already been evacuated ahead of the storm that is expected to bring devastating winds and a wall of water to the state’s Gulf Coast.
Specifically, 63 nursing homes, 17 hospitals, 179 assisted living facilities, 7 hospices, and 7 institutions for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities emptied of patients and residents as the powerful storm moved closer to the state.
Florida Hospital Association President and CEO Mary Mayhew said hospitals strive to remain open before, during, and after storms because health care remains a required service. “You got the combination of injuries as a result of the storm, and then just ongoing health care needs; babies being delivered, individuals needing emergency care and hospital admissions,” she said.
Florida hospitals have invested in hardening their facilities, making them more hurricane resistant. To that end, hospitals have brought in flood mitigation equipment, and some have installed wells in case of disruption to the public water supply. Mayhew added that hospitals are “very good at managing their inventory of supplies” needed to care for people.
“The challenge is, it’s the compounding impact of this being on the heels of hurricane Helene. The debris that is still strewn around the same area along the Gulf Coast, drains are clogged, so what is already extremely vulnerable to significant flooding is going to be further exacerbated by the debris and the clogged drains from Helene,” Mayhew told the Florida Phoenix.
“For hospitals, that’s going to impact patient transport, and it’s going to impact the ability of their staff to traverse the roads and the bridges to get to the hospital.”
Hurricane warnings have been issued in 26 counties across the state and hurricane watches in another seven counties.
Milton will be the second storm to hit Florida in as many weeks. Hurricane Helene made landfall Sept. 26 in Taylor County with winds as high as 140 miles per hour. It was the third time in 13 months that the area, part of Florida’s Big Bend, has been the victim of a natural disaster.
Florida Health Care Association CEO Emmett Reed said in a prepared statement that “the safety and well-being of residents and staff remain our highest priority. Our member nursing centers and assisted living facilities are working with local authorities to prepare for this storm, mobilizing their teams for evacuations or sheltering-in-place as needed. Providers are implementing their emergency plans and protocols to protect those in their care, ensuring that all necessary precautions, including emergency supplies and power provisions, are in place.”
Meanwhile, Florida Medicaid officials waived pre-authorization requirements for critical Medicaid services Monday and lifted all early prescription refill restrictions, except for controlled substances.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reminded insurance companies, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy chains, and health care providers to fill prescriptions in storm-affected areas.
The Department of Health issued bulletins advising residents to be wary of water-borne illness and mosquito bites. Storm surge increases vibrio bacteria, which can cause illness when ingested. The contaminated water can also cause people with open wounds to become ill.
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