Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point evacuated all 209 patients overnight due to an electrical fire that left the Hudson, Fla. -based hospital without power. Critical patients (those in the ICU and on vents) have been moved to other hospitals.
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Fire and law enforcement agencies from Pasco, Hernando, Clearwater, Citrus, Sumpter and Polk counties have responded. Attempts to turn on the backup power with generators failed when a switch broke, shutting off power to the rest of the hospital.
Hospital engineers and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative crews are trying to get power restored. Tobin says almost 300 patients may also be moved.
Orange County Fire Rescue will help transport patients. Around 10 to 15 percent of power has been restored to part of the hospital, officials said. Twelve patients who were in critical condition had been transferred to other hospitals in the area.
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The hospital set up a number for families to call for reunification. There were no reports of additional injuries to patients or crews during the incident.
