Still recovering from Helene, Johns Hopkins All Children’s prepares

As Hurricane Milton approaches, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg is mobilizing its emergency response plans while still recovering from the recent impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Melissa Macogay, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, said they operate on a three-team approach to storm preparedness.

“We start with a prep team who was really in place starting Sunday, once we learned that we had a high probability of the storm arriving,” Macogay explained. This team focuses on readying the facilities, patients and staff for the impending storm. “Today, we’re going to transition to our ride-out teams of employees who now come on campus and stay with us for the duration of the storm.”

Macogay said they expect to have about 200 children and families ride out the storm at the hospital. Preparing young patients has involved alleviating anxiety and including them in planning when possible. Macogay emphasized the importance of supporting parents to help reduce stress for the children.

The hospital is well-equipped to handle extended power outages. “We have a central energy plant that houses about six generators, and they’re able to supply our hospital with 100% of its power source, absolutely, for eight days,” Macogay said, noting the hospital can stay open for longer with power conservation efforts.

The All Children’s leadership team remains in close communication with other children’s hospitals in Florida and county partners, ready to offer or receive assistance depending on the storm’s path and impact.

“We have a helipad that’s capable of landing rescue helicopters, both Blackhawks and Jayhawks, which are really essential if we were ever to get in a position where we had to evacuate,” Macogay said. “Having those facilities in place for us, we know that we’re the safest place to be in St Petersburg, for sure.”

During Hurricane Ian in 2022, All Children’s took in patients from Golisano Children’s Hospital in Ft. Myers, admitting 18 pediatric patients to its neonatal intensive care, hematology, oncology and other units. That relationship works both ways, creating a collaborative network of hospitals ready to support each other however possible when extreme weather impacts the state.

A Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital air care team transports a pediatric patient from Golisano Children’s Hospital in Ft. Myers to St. Petersburg. Video screengrab.

Although all eyes are now squarely set on Milton, Macogay noted that many of the hospital’s staff were displaced from their homes or suffered catastrophic loss after Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago. The hospital has taken steps to support staff and their families, including offering financial assistance, healthy food and resources, like connecting employees with community and federal aid programs. 

“I’m really so proud of the way that our community of employees came together to rally around each other,” she said. “We’ve had a really wonderful employees-helping-employees fund where our staff can generously donate to other employees when they have an area of need, and that’s been just such an incredible area of support.”

Macogay urged the public to take storm warnings seriously and evacuate if required: “Stay home and stay safe, so that we can keep our emergency rooms open to those that really need the critical help.”

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