As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, hospitals in the storm’s path are making critical preparations to safeguard patients and staff. Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the largest healthcare facility in the region, is not planning to evacuate, due to its elevated location and capacity.
“We’re on the highest ground in Sarasota and we’re the largest hospital,” said David Verinder, President and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. “We have too many patients to take care of.”
Verinder estimates that up to 5,000 people, including staff and patients, will be at the hospital’s facilities when the hurricane strikes. The hospital has stocked enough food, water, and supplies to last seven days, ensuring they can manage if deliveries are disrupted.
The hospital staff will be split into two teams. The “A team,” consisting of several hundred physicians and staff, will remain at the hospital throughout the storm, working in rotating shifts. “They’re prepared to sleep and rotate shifts for three days,” said Verinder.
Once the storm passes, the “B team” will come in to relieve the A team, though Verinder expressed concern about road conditions. “If the roads are blocked or power lines are down, the A team will continue working until relief arrives,” he said.
Sarasota Memorial is also providing child care and a temporary pet shelter for staff who need to bring their families and pets.
Dr. Alex Waldman, associate medical director at AdventHealth Tampa Emergency Department, is part of the B team. He will join after the storm to relieve the initial staff. Having worked through Hurricane Helene, Waldman is prepared for potential challenges, including staffing shortages. “If we’re running into issues, like flooding, we’ll be nimble and ensure shifts are covered,” Waldman said.
Further south in Fort Myers, hospitals in the Lee Health system are also taking precautions. While elective procedures have been postponed, facilities remain open for patients. One skilled nursing facility in a low-lying area evacuated 100 patients as a precaution.
Monica Collins, director of respiratory therapy at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers, has sent her family to Miami. After enduring Hurricane Ian two years ago, Collins remains concerned about her home’s vulnerability to flooding. “The stress of not knowing what was happening to my family during Ian was overwhelming,” she said.
As Florida braces for another powerful storm, healthcare workers are not only protecting their patients but also managing their own personal challenges.
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