Tampa Common Hospital put its flood barrier to the check throughout Hurricane Helene late final month, serving to shield the power from document storm surge.
As Hurricane Milton is anticipated to convey record-breaking storm surge but once more to the area, the hospital — situated on the bay close to downtown Tampa — is surrounded by the water-impermeable barrier as soon as extra.
Milton is anticipated to make landfall Wednesday evening close to Sarasota, south of Tampa, as a Class 3 hurricane. The Nationwide Climate Service in Tampa Bay warned on Monday that Milton may very well be the “worst storm to affect the Tampa space in over 100 years.”
Whereas a number of well being care services are suspending service attributable to Milton, Tampa Common Hospital, the area’s solely Stage I Trauma Heart, is getting ready to proceed regular operations.
A view reveals a barrier at Tampa Common Hospital, as Hurricane Milton approaches landfall in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 9, 2024.
Octavio Jones/Reuters
The hospital mentioned it has a number of mitigation measures in place for the storm, together with its barrier, made by the corporate AquaFence. The fence is constructed to face up to storm surge as much as 15 ft above sea degree, the hospital mentioned.
Peak storm surge within the Tampa Bay space topped six ft throughout Helene, which set a brand new document. The flood barrier “labored successfully to stop the storm surge from flooding” the principle campus, the hospital mentioned within the wake of Helene.
Milton may convey a record-breaking storm surge to the Tampa Bay space. Six to 9 ft of storm surge is forecast for the Tampa Bay space.
The hospital mentioned Tuesday it had accomplished meeting of its flood barrier forward of Milton “to guard susceptible areas of the campus in opposition to storm surge and flooding.”
A view reveals an AquaFence barrier at Tampa Common Hospital, as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 9, 2024.
Octavio Jones/Reuters
“Whereas AquaFence has confirmed efficient previously, it’s simply the primary line of protection and one in every of many mitigation efforts we have applied this week to soundly proceed look after our sufferers,” Jennifer Crabtree, chief of employees at Tampa Common, mentioned in an announcement to ABC Orlando affiliate WFTV.
The barrier is meant to guard the infrastructure of the primary flooring of the hospital, which doesn’t have any scientific areas, Crabtree informed NBC Orlando affiliate WESH.
It could possibly face up to as much as 130 mph winds, with a further assist strap added on one aspect of the fence to offer further assist in excessive winds, she informed the station.
Folks transit in a automobile subsequent to an AquaFence barrier at Tampa Common Hospital, as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 9, 2024.
Octavio Jones/Reuters
Different measures to assist maintain hospital operations in the course of the storm embrace an on-site water supply, within the occasion that water service is disrupted, and an on-site power plant situated 33 ft above sea degree that’s constructed to face up to the affect and flooding of a Class 5 hurricane, the hospital mentioned. The hospital mentioned it has additionally stocked up on greater than 5 days of provides, together with meals and linens, and greater than 5,000 gallons of water.
Tampa Bay, and lots of areas throughout the encompassing peninsula, are notably susceptible to hurricanes since these areas haven’t been hit with a significant hurricane in many years.
Hospital programs within the area have invested in flood mitigation, hardening their services and shifting electrical tools to ranges to guard in opposition to flooding, based on Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Affiliation.
“Flooding is such an enormous concern,” Mayhew informed ABC Information. “And now, on the heels of Helene, the place we now have particles that’s, strewn up and down the Gulf Coast, drains are plugged, they’re stuffed with sand.”
