Health First Will Close Outpatient Services, Pharmacies Wednesday; Will Reopen Friday Due to Hurricane Milton

Health First officials will provide real-time updates as the situation evolves

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Milton on Brevard County, and for the safety of associates and customers, Health First officials announced the closing of all outpatient services, including Pro-Health, imaging services, outpatient diagnostics, Health First Medical Group (HFMG) practice locations, the Health First Family Pharmacies at Gateway and Viera Medical Plaza, and the Health First Health Plans customer service lobby effective 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, and will reopen on Friday.

“We anticipate normal operations will resume on Friday, October 11, at 8 a.m., following safety assessments by Health First Facilities,” said Health First spokesman Lance Skelly. “We will continue to keep a close eye on Hurricane Milton’s path and provide real-time updates as the situation evolves.”

The National Hurricane Center’s 1 p.m. report had Milton as a Category 5 with winds of 175 mph.

For more information and updates, visit hf.org/hurricane.

WATCH: Live Hurricane Milton update and information with Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Emergency Management Director John Scott.

A Local State of Emergency was declared for Brevard County on Monday in response to the pending threat of Milton, which is a Category 5 hurricane slowly edging toward the west coast of Florida with a projected impact as a Category 1 hurricane in Brevard County starting Wednesday afternoon through late Thursday.

Brevard County is currently under a hurricane watch.

The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center projects Brevard County could see 6-8 inches of cumulative rain, including this past Sunday through late Thursday; with 10-plus inches in isolated areas, and sustained winds of 70-80 mph, with higher wind gusts.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Hurricane Milton on Sunday.

An emergency declaration provides avenue for counties to expedite contractual procedures, rental of equipment, employment of permanent and temporary workers, acquisition of supplies, materials and facilities and appropriation and expenditure of public funds.

The emergency declaration was signed by Brevard County Commission Chair Jason Steele.

With the National Hurricane Center’s forecast of a major hurricane that will strike the west coast of Florida and will bring hurricane conditions to Brevard County, longtime Central Florida Meteorologist and Space Coast Daily correspondent Danny Treanor offers some sage advice and reminders on how to prepare for a storm. CLICK HERE TO WACH

WATCH: National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Michael Brennan provides an 11 a.m. update on now Major Hurricane Milton.

WATCH: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis provided a Hurricane Milton update Monday morning as Brevard residents all over the county scramble to prepare for Hurricane Milton with miles-long bumper-to-bumper traffic for sandbags. DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties ahead of Milton’s landfall on the Florida west coast. On the Space Coast, Peak Sustained Winds of 74 mph, Peak Wind Gusts of 87 mph, and total rainfall of 8 to 12 inches is forecast.

On the Space Coast, Peak Sustained Winds of 70-80 mph, Peak Wind Gusts of 87 mph, and total rainfall of 8 to 12 inches is forecast on the Space Coast.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis provided a Hurricane Milton update Monday morning as Brevard residents all over the county scramble to prepare for Hurricane Milton with miles-long bumper-to-bumper traffic for sandbags.

DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties ahead of Milton’s landfall on the Florida west coast. On the Space Coast, Peak Sustained Winds of 70-80 mph, Peak Wind Gusts of 87 mph, and total rainfall of 8 to 12 inches is forecast.

In anticipation of the potential impacts from Hurricane Milton, Brevard County is offering free sandbags for residents, which opened at 8 a.m. Monday, and will close at 6 p.m.

The National Hurricane Center’s 1 p.m. report had Milton as a Category 5 with winds of 175 mph.

DeSantis said hurricane watches were in effect for more than 6 million people in west-central Florida and tropical storm watches are in effect for Florida’s Gulf Coast.

“Milton can bring a variety of life-threatening dangers, including an extreme storm surge of 10-15 feet along and near the coast, including in the Tampa Bay area, destructive winds and major flooding to one of the most densely populated parts of Florida, the I-4 corridor, especially from Tampa toward Orlando,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter.

With the National Hurricane Center’s forecast of a major hurricane that will strike the west coast of Florida and will bring hurricane conditions to Brevard County, longtime Central Florida Meteorologist and Space Coast Daily correspondent Danny Treanor offers some sage advice and reminders on how to prepare for a storm. CLICK HERE TO WACH

Sandbag Sites open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7:

■ Chain of Lakes Park, 2300 Truman Scarborough Way, Titusville, FL 32796.
■ Mitch Ellington Park, 577 Hall Road, Merritt Island, FL, 32953. Enter from West Hall Road.
■ Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Dr., Melbourne, FL 32935. Enter using south access from Parkway Dr.
■ Eastern Florida State College-Palm Bay Campus, 250 Community College Parkway SE Palm Bay, 32909

Sand is being provided by Brevard County Public Works and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office will have supervised inmate work crews filling and loading sandbags for residents.

Residents do not need to bring sandbags, bags are provided and filled by on-site personnel. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per vehicle. Please be aware, lines may be closed earlier than 6 p.m. to ensure a timely closure.

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