BATON ROUGE – Ochsner Medical Center has established a hotline for family members needing information about patients that have been transferred.

Earlier Saturday afternoon, the medical center transferred approximately 40 critically ill patients to other Ochsner facilities due to the severe weather and flooding in the hospital.

Family members of patients are urged to call 504-842-3198 and will need to provide a patient's date of birth to receive information about their condition and location.

The decision has not been made to transport additional patients at the time of this post, according to officials.

Hospital officials say they will remain in contact with the Office of Emergency Preparedness to ensure that military vehicles and air transport support will be available. Ochsner Baton Rouge medical personnel remain on site and the facility has power, water and adequate supplies to care for the remaining patients and staff.