Evacuating before a hurricane — preparing the house, stocking up on water and gas, dealing with pets — is tough and expensive. But it can be much harder for people who have chronic illnesses and may need dialysis, a power source for their wheelchair or critical medications.
More than 500,000 Americans who rely on things like oxygen tanks and cardiac devices live in the path of Hurricane Matthew, and many are being forced to leave.
Dr. Maina Gatonye, chief medical officer for Chen Senior Medical Centers in South Florida, has been working the phones for the past several days, calling patients with conditions like diabetes and kidney failure. In the run up to the storm, staff identified the most vulnerable 400 to 600 patients.
