SMH's Standard Hurricane Response Plan
Hurricane season is June 1 through Nov. 30.
Sarasota Memorial employees continually monitor and prepare for weather emergencies. The hospital's Hurricane Response Plan provides comprehensive information for an effective and safe response to hurricanes.
SMHCS employees should call the Employee Hotline, 941-917-8799, for updates relating to hospital operations before, during and after a storm. Once a Hurricane Watch is instituted for Sarasota County, information regarding department and facility closures and other issues will be continuously updated on the hotline. The Employee Hotline is the best source of updated information for employees.
Updates regarding hospital services will be shared with the community via this website (smh.com), Sarasota Memorial social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), local news media and other external communications channels.
SMH Employees
All employees are encouraged to review the hospital Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that can be found on the internal PULSE site and to discuss with their supervisors what their role and responsibilities would be.
Members of Labor Pool (clinical & non-clinical) should familiarize themselves with the Labor Pool phone number and Labor Pool location.
Members of Hurricane Teams: Response (A) Team, Recovery (B) Team and Pre-Team members should familiarize themselves with their team roles and responsibilities within the Hurricane Response Plan.
Sheltering Medically Dependent Residents
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is an acute-care, community hospital, providing healthcare to patients. Because of this important role, the hospital’s resources are committed to those who need them most. SMH is not a community shelter.
Sarasota County has designated Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a medical shelter during critical emergency situations for SMH patients and for residents with qualifying medical needs who have pre-registered as Medically Dependent People (MDPs). If local evacuations are necessary, the county will activate SMH as a medical shelter for MDPs (previously known as "People with Special Needs,” or PSNs). The Florida Department of Health has established other shelter locations for people with medical needs who do not require a hospital setting.
Residents who need to pre-register with the county as MDPs prior to a hurricane or tropical storm should call Sarasota County’s Call Center at 941-861-5000 or click here. For information on what assigned MDPs and caregivers can expect when sheltering at SMH, including current COVID-19 precautions, click here.