As the busiest months of hurricane season approach, Tampa General Hospital is expanding its storm defenses with new flood-control infrastructure designed to protect patients and keep critical medical services running during major hurricanes.

Why it matters: Tampa General sits on Davis Islands, making it especially vulnerable to storm surge. As the region's Level I Trauma Center, the hospital must remain operational even as surrounding communities experience flooding and widespread power outages.

The hospital is once again installing its AquaFence flood barrier, which successfully protected the campus during Hurricane Helene in 2024 by withstanding an estimated nine feet of water. This year, officials are strengthening the system by addressing another potential flood pathway — underground storm drains.

What's new

Tampa General has added:

  • 20 new storm drains across campus.
  • Reinforced manholes to prevent floodwater intrusion.
  • 18 one-way check valves that allow rainwater to drain out while blocking storm surge from flowing back into the hospital.
  • AquaFence protection for six additional buildings.

The hospital has also expanded preparedness beyond flood protection by opening an off-site sterile processing facility, stockpiling medical supplies and fuel, and strengthening emergency supply chains before storms threaten Tampa Bay.

Bigger picture

Hospital leaders say hurricane preparedness is a year-round effort, with improvements identified after every storm season rather than waiting until a hurricane is approaching.

The flood protection strategy is also spreading across Tampa Bay. St. Petersburg has installed its own AquaFence system to protect wastewater treatment facilities, while the Florida Aquarium is using similar barriers to safeguard its campus and animal habitats.

Bottom line: Protecting Tampa General means protecting one of the region's most critical pieces of disaster infrastructure. Multiple layers of flood protection, backup utilities and emergency supplies are designed to ensure lifesaving care continues even if a major hurricane strikes Tampa Bay.