Will AquaFence keep Tampa General safe from Hurricane Milton?

Tampa General Hospital, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region, prepared itself for Hurricane Milton using AquaFence flood barriers, which can withstand up to 15 feet of storm surge and 130 mph winds.

The hospital is preparing to continue operations while other healthcare facilities suspend service. It says the reusable AquaFence panels successfully protected the hospital from floods during the devastating Hurricane Helene.

However, the National Weather Service warns that Milton could bring a 6 to 9-foot storm surge. It is poised to be the worst storm to hit Tampa in over 100 years.

AquaFence barriers are used in 24 US states and have become popular since Hurricane Sandy in 2007, company president Thomas Briedis told Bloomberg. They could cost between $350 and $1,000 per linear foot.

In addition to the AquaFence, Tampa General has an on-site energy plant 33 feet above sea level and stocked supplies for five days, ensuring it can maintain services despite potential flooding and power outages.