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Local hospitals taking in patients evacuating from Florence

18 patients were transported to Coliseum Northside Hospital from Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Linda Lennox arrived a Coliseum Northside Hospital on Tuesday from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

She'd never been to Macon before, and now it's become her safe zone from Hurricane Florence, but leaving home wasn't easy.

"My husband had to stay in Myrtle Beach, and I also have three little dogs, and knowing I was leaving all of them behind, I had a hard time with that," Lennox said.

She's one of the 18 patients brought in from Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach.

She got in around midnight by ambulance bus. The 6-hour ride turned into 12 for them due to a busted tire.

"The bus ride was a little bit rough, but when I got here, I couldn't believe it. I come out on the stretcher and there was a bunch of people in the lobby," Lennox said.

Lennox suffers from Cellulitis. It's a bacteria infection that's affecting her toes which may have to be amputated.

Despite having a tough week, she said she's been feeling better ever since she's arrived.

"Once I got here, it's so funny. I felt so comfortable that it took care of a lor of the anxiety that I was feeling," Lennox said.

Coliseum Northside Hospital CEO Greg Caples said they're prepared with supplies and have all the staff needed to accommodate evacuees, but they aren't expecting to get anymore.

"All of the patients have now been evacuated. We got word this morning that every single patient has been evacuated from Grand Strand, so there's no further needs for evacuation, so I think the 18 that we've received are the ones that we'll have," Caples said.

Grand Strand Medical Center evacuated more than 300 patients to various hospitals.

Fairview Park in Dublin are treating three evacuees.

Navicent Health Center have opened their facilities to evacuating patients, but don't currently have any.

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