Staff Reports
State officials are pushing back against news reports that Hurricane Michael left Florida State Hospital (FSP) in Chattahoochee cut off from the outside world.
“While many roads in and around Chattahoochee are blocked, all residents and staff remain secure and safe at the facility,” Department of Children and Families spokesman David Frady said in a statement.
The hospital, run by the department, treats patients with severe mental disabilities who have been committed to the institution. Close to 1,000 residents are there now.
“Florida State Hospital was fully prepared for this storm and never lost contact with first responders,” Frady said. “While land lines and cell phone coverage in the area were down, the facility (used) emergency radios to remain in contact with first responders throughout the entire emergency.”
The facility never lost power, he added. It has emergency power generators and enough fuel to run them for several days.
Because a large tree was blown over, “an underground water line was broken,” Frady said.
“While the facility still had some water pressure capable of running toilets and showers, extra drinking water was delivered in an abundance of caution. The line is currently being repaired and the facility will have full utility services soon.”
More than 50 staff members from Florida’s other two state mental health treatment facilities are currently headed to Chattahoochee to provide assistance and “additional staff will be brought in as needed.”
FSP is the oldest and biggest psychiatric hospital in the state.
