Two Florida Hospitals Evacuate All Patients After Hurricane Damage

After sustaining serious damage Wednesday from Hurricane Michael, two Florida hospitals have evacuated more than 300 patients Thursday.

Bay Medical Sacred Heart in Panama City sheltered 1,500 people including staff’s families, first responders, and patients during the storm. Officials told ABC News that all were safe, but due to damage to the building, it is evacuating more than 200 patients.

Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center in Panama City released a statement Thursday that it was evacuating about 130 patients, beginning with the most critically ill, because of infrastructure issues.

“Until we can be certain of stable public power, water, and sewage systems, our patients will be safest in our neighboring hospitals,” according to the Gulf Coast Regional statement.

Bay Medical said it suffered blown-out windows, cracking of an exterior wall, and roof damage during the storm, as well as water damage, ABC reported. Bay Medical said it was sending patients, including 39 in intensive care, to Pensacola and Jacksonville in Florida and Mobile, Alabama. Evacuations were expected to be completed within 48 hours.

Both hospitals said they are keeping their emergency rooms open.