The state of Florida has evacuated 72 nursing homes and assisted living facilities ahead of Hurricane Dorian’s arrival to the country’s east coast. 

Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Mary Mayhew announced the evacuations on Monday, stating that just four long-term care facilities were evacuated for not having emergency generators and access to backup power, which became required under a new law in the wake of 2017’s Hurricane Irma.

“They are making a determination based upon their buildings’ ability to withstand a Category 5 (hurricane), whether they are in the surge zone. So that is separate and apart from the generator,” Mayhew told local reporters

Recent forecasts for Hurricane Dorian predict the storm will avoid direct landfall but impact the coast. Long-term care facilities have been on high-alert since last week after the storm was upgraded to a Category 4.

Officials issued mandatory evacuations along parts of the coast and have warned of strong winds and power outages. The storm is  also expected to cause significant damage to parts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and possibly southeast Virginia this week. 

The federal government has declared public health emergencies for Georgia and South Carolina. The declaration allows Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services beneficiaries and providers “greater flexibility” in meeting emergency health needs, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said. 

“Hurricane Dorian remains an extremely dangerous storm and continues to pose a significant threat to health and safety,” Azar said Monday. “With these declarations and waivers, we will help ensure that our fellow Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid have continuous access to the care they need during and after this storm.”