Florida Division of Emergency Management
CLIENT
Florida Division of Emergency Management
TYPE OF PROJECT
Hurricane Milton Alternative Care Site(s), Mobile Deployments, and Special Needs Shelters
PROJECT FEATURES
- Alternative Care Sites
- Mobile Deployments
- Special Needs Shelters
- Clinical Staffing Augmentation
- Emergency Operations Center Staffing Augmentation
SERVICES
Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 2, 2024, as a Category 3 storm in the Florida Panhandle near Panama City. The storm brought powerful winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous storm surge, resulting in widespread flooding and significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and coastal areas. Milton’s high winds uprooted trees, caused power outages, and led to extensive recovery efforts across the state.
In response to the devastation, CDR Health was instrumental in the disaster medical response, partnering with the Florida Division of Emergency Management to support extensive relief efforts. CDR Health provided two full wraparound alternative care sites with special needs shelters in buildings of opportunity, with capacities up to [X] per site. Our teams played a critical role in augmenting clinical staff across state-run shelters, helping to manage the healthcare needs of residents as the storm and flooding impacted much of Florida. Additionally, in collaboration with local authorities, CDR Health established a special needs shelter in Auburndale, FL, and deployed mobile missions to Tropicana Field and parts of Jacksonville, ensuring that displaced residents received the care and attention they needed during this catastrophic event.
HIGHLIGHTS
In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in 2024, CDR Health swiftly responded by establishing two field hospitals and a large-scale shelter in Wiregrass Ranch, Lutz, and Auburndale, Florida. The field hospitals, located in Wiregrass Ranch and Lutz, had a combined capacity of 2,500 beds and were staffed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, providing continuous care, including triage and treatment for patients with low-acuity medical needs. In Auburndale, CDR Health set up a shelter with a capacity of 2,000, in partnership with the State of Florida and the Red Cross offering a safe haven and essential support for individuals with special needs, ensuring they received critical resources during this challenging time.
- Established a 500-bed Alternate Care Site/Low-Acuity Medical Field Hospital in Wiregrass Ranch, Florida, to alleviate pressure on the primary healthcare system and provide essential care for special needs populations.
- Established a 2,000-bed Alternate Care Site/Low-Acuity Medical Field Hospital in Lutz, Florida, designed to support individuals with low-acuity medical needs and reduce the burden on local healthcare facilities.
- Established a 2,000-capacity Shelter in Auburndale, Florida, providing a safe environment and critical resources for individuals requiring specialized assistance during Hurricane Milton.
