Beaufort Memorial Hospital has begun evacuating patients and has closed its emergency room Thursday because of the threat of Hurricane Matthew. Hospital officials said that the decision will go into effect immediately. Beaufort Memorial has been in constant contact with the Department of Health and Environmental Control. State leaders told the hospital that it is likely it will lose power because of Matthew's predicted storm surges. Hospital officials are preparing to evacuate approximately 70 patients, and are treating and releasing emergency room patients when possible. Relatives of patients will be notified when transfer arrangements are made with hospitals in South Carolina and Georgia. Hospital staff will evacuate when all patients are safely removed from the facility. Officials said staff members will relocate to area shelters to remain nearby. Additional updates will be released by the hospital. Stay with WJCL.com for more information. Get complete Hurricane Matthew coverage and notifications on breaking information from the WJCL app! Download FREE for your iPhone or Android.

Beaufort Memorial Hospital has begun evacuating patients and has closed its emergency room Thursday because of the threat of Hurricane Matthew.

Hospital officials said that the decision will go into effect immediately. Beaufort Memorial has been in constant contact with the Department of Health and Environmental Control.


State leaders told the hospital that it is likely it will lose power because of Matthew's predicted storm surges.

Hospital officials are preparing to evacuate approximately 70 patients, and are treating and releasing emergency room patients when possible.

Relatives of patients will be notified when transfer arrangements are made with hospitals in South Carolina and Georgia.

Hospital staff will evacuate when all patients are safely removed from the facility. Officials said staff members will relocate to area shelters to remain nearby.

Additional updates will be released by the hospital.

Stay with WJCL.com for more information.

Get complete Hurricane Matthew coverage and notifications on breaking information from the WJCL app! Download FREE for your iPhone or Android.