Port Charlotte hospitals evacuate patients south as Hurricane Milton approaches

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – As Hurricane Milton approaches, hospitals and clinics in Port Charlotte are rushing to evacuate their patients.

ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte announced Tuesday that it has begun transferring critical patients out of the city. The hospital has suspended admissions and canceled all elective procedures.

“We are closely monitoring the latest developments surrounding Hurricane Milton and its potential impact on our region,” ShorePoint Medical Group said in a statement. “Our primary goal is the safety of our patients and staff and the care we can provide.”

Watch Port Charlotte hospitals evacuate patients:

Port Charlotte hospitals evacuate patients south as Hurricane Milton approaches

FEMA-registered ambulances were seen transporting patients out of the city. Patients at Physicians Regional Healthcare System in Naples are being moved to a safer location, ShorePoint said.

HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital, across from ShorePoint, is also evacuating patients.

Charlotte County’s emergency response team is urging residents to take the approaching hurricane seriously.

“Charlotte County urges residents to remain vigilant, monitor the progress of the storm, review their disaster plans and ensure they have ready disaster equipment,” a county spokesman said at a news conference Monday.

The county’s emergency management agency is warning of an even worse storm surge than Hurricane Helene, which hit the area less than two weeks ago and caused severe flooding in coastal neighborhoods.

“Any evacuation order we communicate to the public should be viewed as binding. We are not issuing voluntary evacuation orders in Charlotte County,” the county spokesperson added.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, ShorePoint Health confirmed that 80% of its patients had already been evacuated.

“These patients are accompanied and supported by our own nursing and medical staff, who support the receiving medical facilities and ensure continuity of care,” the group said in a Facebook post.

ShorePoint’s emergency rooms will close at 7 p.m. Tuesday and will remain closed until it is safe to reopen.