A flood barrier designed to protect a Florida hospital just withstood Hurricane Helene, however it may not be enough to stop Milton.
Tampa General Hospital contains the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, meaning it is equipped to provide 24-hour care from general surgeons, provide referrals and resources to the community, and can meet its minimum requirement for severely injured patients every year, according to the American Trauma Society.
The hospital was not evacuated during Hurricane Helene, and used a flood barrier manufactured by a Norwegian-based company AquaFence as one of the methods to protect itself, Tampa General Hospital spokesperson Jennifer Crabtree told local media outlet WESH 2 News.
A video published by various news outlets at the time showed the barrier successfully keep water at bay from the hospital. However it may not be able to do the same during Hurricane Milton.
The AquaFence flood wall being put into place around Tampa General Hospital ahead of Hurricane Milton, October 8, 2024. The AquaFence can protect the hospital in storm surges up to 15 feet, however some people are concerned that this will not be enough given Milton’s strength.
Bryan R. Smith/Getty images
The Tampa Bay Times reports that Tampa General is situated in one of Tampa’s lowest neighborhoods, which makes the hospital extremely vulnerable to not only high winds, but a storm surge of up to 15 feet of water.
The barrier is only designed to protect a maximum of 10-15 feet of water, so if Milton does surge any higher than that, the fence may not be as effective in protecting the hospital as it was during Hurricane Helene.
Additionally, winds from Hurricane Milton are expected to reach speeds as high as 160 mph. According to Crabtree, the fence can protect against up to 130 mph winds, however she added that the barrier has been reinforced with resin and concrete anchors to make it extra secure in the face of stronger winds.
AquaFence has been contacted via email for comment.
The barrier is not Tampa General’s only means of protecting their patients from the incoming storm. They have implemented several other safety measures, including back-up energy and water supplies, Crabtree told the Tampa Bay Times. She added that no patients are located on the first floor of the building.
Newsweek reached out to Tampa General Hospital for comment via phone and will update this article if a comment is provided.
Hurricane Milton is the first storm in 100 years to hit Tampa directly, and is expected to bring life-threatening devastation to the area.
Tampa’s mayor, Jane Castor, told residents on October 7 via a CNN interview: “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die.”
This is not the only stark message that has been delivered to residents living in evacuation zones.
On October 7, CNN reported on a press conference where Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody told Floridians who are unwilling or unable to evacuate: “You probably need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm so that people know who you are when they get to you afterwards.”
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