Severe storms could affect triage tents at hospitals

In the event of severe weather, UNC Rex Hospital plans to shut down triage tents set up to separate potential coronavirus patients.

Posted 10:52 p.m. Apr 12, 2020 — Updated 10:52 p.m. Apr 12, 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. — Severe thunderstorms could have an impact on area hospitals and triage tent operations.

UNC Rex Hospital set up tents to allow medical providers to have a more secure area to screen potentially infectious patients before entering the hospital. In the event of severe weather, the hospital plans to shut them down.

For weeks, these triage tents outside of Triangle hospitals have played a role in separating potential coronavirus patients from other people at the hospital for other reasons. Now, doctors are keeping a close eye on severe weather and its possible impact on these tents.

Alan Foster, an emergency preparedness manager for Rex Hospital, said the triage tents are made to handle winds up to 65 miles per hour. "We've put everything we can in place to make it safer for our providers and our nurses and our patients," Foster said. "We don't want anyone to be in harm's way."

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