Addison Gilbert Hospital and Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Addison Gilbert Hospital is a full-service acute hospital offering in-patient services to Cape Ann residents. The hospital, which was established in 1889, has served the Cape Ann community for over a century. The hospital is a point of civic pride and provides critical healthcare infrastructure for residents in the City of Gloucester and towns in Cape Ann (alongside the urgent care facility at Gloucester Crossing).¹

Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is located directly behind Addison Gilbert Hospital, and provides both individual care and clinical services. The facility is a critical asset for Cape Ann’s elderly and vulnerable residents.

During the Great Storm, it is critical to maintain access to Addison Gilbert Hospital to ensure that the hospital is prepared with emergency generators and fresh water.² During previous Category 3 hurricanes, Gloucester has suffered a heavy loss of life due to fishermen on the working waterfront. The hospital currently has seventy-nine beds, which could be overwhelmed in the event of a large storm. Many of the health issues after a large storm are not immediate. Rather, carbon monoxide poisoning from emergency generators, and respiratory problems from dried sediment and mold will send a steady stream of patients to the hospital in the weeks after the storm. Further, mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder will be exacerbated after the storm.³

While the hospital itself is not at risk of flooding, many of the transportation routes that serve the hospital — including Route 128, Route 127 and the Grant Circle Rotary — are vulnerable to flooding from storm surge. Clear planning and alternative routes are needed to help citizens find their way to the hospital in the event of flooding.