Heroes emerge as providers enter Hurricane Helene recovery mode

Heroes emerge as providers enter Hurricane Helene recovery mode
McKnight's Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto;10/1/24
Hurricane Helene made landfall on the Florida panhandle Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds. By Friday afternoon, the storm had been downgraded to a tropical depression, but the its heavy rain and wind caused damage across an 800-mile path in the southeastern United States. [Hero examples from the article include:]

• LeadingAge put out a call to members to donate to its Disaster Relief Fund to assist Atlantic coast senior living communities and nursing homes affected by the hurricane.
• Argentum Vice President of Government Relations Paul Williams told McKnight’s Senior Living that one of the “most remarkable” aspects of Hurricane Helene has been the willingness of senior living providers to help each other, putting resident safety and well-being at the forefront.
• Throughout the event, LeadingAge Southeast said, it coordinated with state agencies, the governor’s office and emergency management personnel to share emergency orders, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services waivers, curfew letters and more. In advance of the storm, staff members worked proactively with member communities to assess their needs regarding supplies, personnel, power and support with electronic reporting systems.
• The North Carolina National Guard and North Carolina Emergency Management Services are assisting with the delivery of food, medication and supplies.
• LeadingAge South Carolina on Friday focused on getting generators and refrigerated trucks to communities.
• Still Hopes, a continuing care retirement / life plan community West Columbia, SC, delivered bottled water, bags of charcoal, toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags and coolers to staff members at Saluda Nursing & Rehabilitation for use in their own homes, according to LeadingAge South Carolina President and CEO Kassie South.
• South also shared hero stories, including the director of assisted living for Presbyterian Home in Clinton, SC, who could not get to work due to impassable roads, so she parked her car and walked. South also called out Wesley Commons in Greenwood, SC, for “showing up” to ensure residents were cared for despite having no services at their own homes.
• For communities without water or under boil notices, Brookdale indicated that it is providing bottled water, bringing in water trucks and providing sanitary wipes.