Power was restored to Lake Forest Hospital at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday evening, but hospital officials say clinical operations will remain closed for the time being.
In total, 70 patients were transported from Lake Forest Hospital to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and other local facilities after the medical campus experienced power outages due to flooding, according to a Wednesday evening statement from Northwestern Medicine.
Hospital officials say they continue to work with ComEd and local authorities.
“Our primary goal is to assure the safety of our patients and staff,” said Linnea Mason, a spokeswoman for Northwestern medicine in an email.
Lake Forest firefighters were not immediately available for comment.
“They had a lot of ambulances out there to do the transport,” said Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Rob Copeland.
He added that the fire department had not asked for police assistance and that officers remain busy blocking off flooded roads in Lake Forest.
Multiple buildings on the hospital’s campus were closed due to standing water and power losses Wednesday, according to the hospital’s website.
The hospital was directing radiation and oncology patients to other Northwestern Medicine locations while elective surgical cases were sent to the Grayslake Outpatient Center, according to the website.
The evacuation comes after heavy rains and flooding across Lake County. Flooding was worsened as the first wave of overnight storms was followed by additional storms that swept through the area Wednesday morning and early afternoon.
More Top Picks Chi Professional
The National Weather Service maintained a flood warning during the day Wednesday for southern Lake County.
Twitter: @reporterdude