FEMA Grant To Help TGH Weather Storms

By CAROL GENTRY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 13, 2007

Tampa General Hospital will have a bit more protection to stand up to the Big Blow when it comes.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Monday that TGH has been awarded a hurricane protection grant of $3.16 million to fortify the roof and windows of the hospital, about three-fourths of the cost of the project.

Workers are covering the hospital windows with 6-by-4-foot sheets of stainless steel with perforations to let in some sunlight. The screens are said to be capable of withstanding a blow from an object traveling 155 mph.

The money also will be used to strengthen the roof and replace ventilation louvers with a new type that keeps out wind-driven rain.

"This grant will allow us to take care of some structural issues we had not been able to budget for," said TGH spokesman John Dunn. From 2005 through the end of this year, TGH will have spent $2.4 million on stormproofing, he said.

TGH is the ninth Florida hospital to receive an award under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, a $523 million fund created after the 2004-05 hurricanes, agency spokesman Jim Homstad said. Some nursing homes and health departments have received grants. More than 800 Florida health organizations applied, he said. Some are under consideration.

The Tampa General grant is more than twice as large as any of the other Florida hospital grants on the FEMA list.

"The patients and critical medical staff need to be protected in a storm," Homstad said. "This investment will help accomplish that and save money for everyone in the long run."

Tampa General, surrounded on three sides by water, had a scare in 2004 when Hurricane Charley approached the area before veering off to slam Port Charlotte. The danger was real enough that the staff discharged all patients who could evacuate and moved those who remained away from windows and lower floors, Dunn said.

That summer, three hurricanes were a near-miss. Some rain intruded, but not enough to cause damage, said Oslec Fernandez, director of facilities management. Afterward, the hospital brought in a Miami stormproofing consultant and began following his recommendations.

Much of the early attention has gone into ensuring that the generators, air conditioning systems and fuel tanks are protected from wind and water. The roof of the new parking garage was built to handle military transport helicopters.

Fernandez said the hospital has three days of fuel on hand, as required by the state, and has arranged for an oil company to make a delivery by barge when supplies run low.

The Level One trauma center for West Central Florida, TGH serves 12 counties, a population of more than 4 million.

It houses regional burn, poison and transplant centers, high-risk obstetrics and other programs that bring in many patients who are too fragile to evacuate, however strong the hurricane.

Reporter Carol Gentry can be reached at (813) 259-7624 or

cgentry@tampatrib.com.