Hurricane Preparedness
Learn tips to help you prepare for a hurricane if you have special health needs, such as being pregnant or requiring oxygen or home health care.
HCA Florida Healthcare offers a comprehensive hurricane preparedness plan to ensure our patients and our staff who care for them are safe before, during and after a storm. We have contracts with vendors from around the state and nation to provide complete support—from on-site security and generators to food for our patients and staff. Transfer processes and plans within our network of hospitals across the country also exist, should patients need to be relocated to another facility.
Our resources are committed to providing for our patients and staff who will remain here to care for them during the duration of the storm. Please note our hospitals are not shelters and are not equipped to serve as shelters during the storm.
Our resources are committed to providing for our patients and staff who will remain here to care for them during the duration of the storm. Please note our hospitals are not shelters and are not equipped to serve as shelters during the storm.
Healthcare hurricane preparedness tips
If you have special healthcare needs, you will find information below to help you prepare for the hurricane.
For pregnant women
Any pregnant woman who is two weeks from her due date (38 weeks gestation) or is considered high risk may be asked to stay at the hospital in the event of a hurricane. If your provider, determines that it is necessary for you to be in the hospital, arrive no later than four hours before landfall.
To learn more, visit our hurricane information for expectant mothers page.
To learn more, visit our hurricane information for expectant mothers page.
For home health care and homebound patients
If you are a homebound patient or dependent on any medical device that requires electricity, contact your physician to ask for their recommendation.
If you are receiving home health services, make sure your home health provider has developed a special hurricane plan for you.
If you require oxygen, check with your supplier about emergency plans.
Should you evacuate, remember to take with you:
If you are receiving home health services, make sure your home health provider has developed a special hurricane plan for you.
If you require oxygen, check with your supplier about emergency plans.
Should you evacuate, remember to take with you:
- Bedding
- Medications
- Special equipment
- Written care instructions
For people with other health needs
If you are dependent on life support systems or any medical device which requires electricity, you will need to make plans to relocate early for a hurricane. Power may be off for some time before, during and after a storm.
Hurricane resources
To learn more about preparing for a hurricane, view our hurricane preparedness checklists. You will also find additional hurricane emergency and preparedness resources below.
Emergency management organization
For disaster assistance, call FEMA at (800) 621-3362.