State Of Emergency Declared To Help Metro Atlanta Hospitals

ATLANTA, GA — The ripple effect of other metro Atlanta hospitals handling trauma patients diverted from Grady Memorial Hospital has prompted a state of emergency in Fulton County. Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday declared a state of emergency as a result of damage at Grady following a burst 24-inch water pipe a week ago.

The declaration allows Kemp to activate the Georgia Emergency Management Agency so it can bring in a mobile hospital unit room from North Carolina, WSB reports.

On Dec. 7, a pipe burst and water damaged several floors of the hospital and its electrical system. Flooding on the sixth floor and two other floors must be repaired, along with electrical issues, which could take up to three months, Grady officials said in a statement.

The hospital transferred 150 of its 700 patients to other medical centers over the past week, WSB said. As of Friday, patient transfers have stopped.

Staring Friday morning, Grady again began accepting trauma, stroke, and burn patients only.

Repairs to areas of the hospital damaged by the pipe break are ongoing, the hospital said.

Restrictions on visitation have been lifted, but elevator wait time may be longer than normal.

A news conference later Friday with officials from GEMA, Grady, and the state Department of Public Health will explain how facilities will work to handle patients and the repairs at Grady.