The hospital lost power at 1 a.m. on September 11, initiating the backup generator. The generator worked for three hours before shutting off at 4 a.m. due to problems with the generator’s secondary fuel tank. Respirators and other equipment continued to run thanks to backup battery power. The hospital regained power at 7:30 a.m. No patients died as a result of the power outage.
One surgeon continued to do emergency surgeries throughout the storm, sometimes by flashlight, including appendectomy, gall bladder and colon procedures.
“I am so proud of the team, the employees and the doctors and the lineman; it was humanity at work. They are good people doing heroic things,” said Steve Nierman, president of Winter Haven Hospital.
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