The state notified hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living operators Friday that they need to “update” information related to utility providers, generator capability and facility contacts in preparation for Tropical Storm Laura.
“If you make a decision to evacuate, please make that entry in ESS (Emergency Status System) immediately,” the Agency for Health Care Administration said in an email Friday evening.
All licensees providing residential or inpatient services are required to submit the data, which also includes the number of people in the buildings and the number of available beds.
“The Agency and the Department of Health urge all health care providers to make every effort to prepare for Tropical Storm Laura. Be alert and check floridadisaster.org for updates as the situation unfolds,” the email read.
The storm is expected to reach the northern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti over the weekend, and could have an impact on Florida early next week, according to the National Hurricane Center. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Division of Emergency Management on Thursday advised Floridians to keep an eye on the storm.
Also Friday, DeSantis sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting declaration of a pre-landfall emergency for areas of South Florida, the Gulf Coast and Northwest Florida.
