Heavy rains pelted the southeastern United States for several days after Hurricane Helene hit the Florida Gulf Coast. And although some areas experienced life-threatening conditions and flooding, senior living providers reported through Monday that all residents and staff members were safe and already moving into recovery mode.
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.
President Biden approved federal disaster declarations for Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a public health emergency for Florida, Georgia and North Carolina to address the health effects of Helene.
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. The organization said that Hurricane Helene’s “path of havoc” was widespread, leaving members in Florida, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia facing catastrophic flooding, significant damage, power and communication infrastructure crises, and transportation issues.
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.
“We just continue to be amazed at the level of cooperation among providers,” Williams said. “We’ve heard of several instances where there are no competitive walls during situations like this. They are just all helping each other.”
Power outages, flooding impact assisted living operators
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration reported that as of Sunday, 50 healthcare facilities reported evacuations, including 26 assisted living communities, two adult family care homes and 15 nursing homes. Florida AHCA also reported that 100% of operating long-term care facilities had generators on site. As of Sunday afternoon, 47 assisted living facilities, three adult family care homes and 16 nursing homes were on generator power across the state.
Argentum reported that Florida had significantly addressed power outages in the state, with only five assisted living communities without power as of Monday morning.
Some LeadingAge Southeast member independent living and assisted living communities, as well as nursing homes, in Florida were affected by flooding, leading to the evacuation of residents and staff members. Senior Director of Operations Nick Van Der Linden told McKnight’s Senior Living on Monday that everyone was safe and that recovery efforts were underway. He added that the storm had little to no effect on members in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
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.
Some residents of Brookdale Senior Living communities in Florida and elsewhere needed to be temporarily relocated but by Saturday had either returned or were welcome to return to their home communities. The company said that Brookdale communities had experienced “minimal damage,” although some communities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia were experiencing power outages.
North Carolina continues to be severely affected by the storm, particularly in the western part of the state.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said that the state suffered “significant, damaging and life-threatening flash flooding” across portions of the state, with rainfall totals reaching 20 inches in some locations. The state said that the affected regions experienced damaged and evacuated assisted living homes, landslides, fallen debris, more than 114 road closures, more than 900,000 homes and businesses without power, and airport and train transportation stoppages.
North Carolina Senior Living Association Executive Director Jeff Horton told McKnight’s Senior Living on Monday that cell phone coverage remains limited, some areas don’t have electricity, and roads are blocked or destroyed — all of which is hampering the ability of staff members to get to their communities and food deliveries to take place.
Horton said that North Carolina is home to 540 small family care homes and almost 600 adult care homes, also known as assisted living communities, but he added that the western part of the state was the hardest hit. He said that member facilities are working with others to provide beds and transportation services as they are able to accommodate displaced residents.
North Carolina Assisted Living Association President and CEO Frances Messer told McKnight’s Senior Living on Monday that she had contacted member communities in the western part of the state, which was hardest hit by the storm. She said they have received reports of internet, electricity and phone service benign intermittent or completely out. The biggest challenge is staffing, Messer said, as many employees were personally affected by the storm, and the lack of gasoline is adding to transportation issues.
NCALA is working with the state Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office regarding staffing and other related resident care rule waivers that fall outside of life essential functions, according to Argentum.
The North Carolina National Guard and North Carolina Emergency Management Services are assisting with the delivery of food, medication and supplies, but Messer said that all senior living residents are safe.
In South Carolina, several assisted living communities and nursing homes were without power on Friday and were operating on backup generators. Rainfall totals exceeded 15 inches in some areas, and several rivers were seeing moderate to major flooding as a result.
LeadingAge South Carolina on Friday focused on getting generators and refrigerated trucks to communities.
“We’re triaging and managing,” the state partner told LeadingAge. “Our biggest worry is how long this [reliance on generators] will last.”
In Georgia, Argentum reported, generators and oxygen were the most significant requests from senior living providers. A large biochemical lab fire east of Atlanta and a large metro water pumping station failure on Monday in Metro Atlanta exacerbated relief efforts in that area of the state.
The Georgia Health Care Association and Georgia Senior Living Association said they were working closely with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Department of Public Health, the State Operations Center and its members to assist in recovery efforts to prioritize resources for communities in need.
“We know a number of our members in affected areas are still without power and operating on generator power, and we are assisting the state’s efforts to obtain their daily operational status,” GHCA/GSLA spokeswoman Devon Barill told McKnight’s Senior Living. “We will continue to do all we can to ensure the safety of residents and their dedicated caregivers following the impact of this storm.”
Heroes emerge from tragedy
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.
“Our members are everyday heroes who have continued to show up and care for residents despite the immense tragedy and devastation they are facing at home,” South told McKnight’s Senior Living.
In Tennessee, Brookdale Senior Living indicated that it had to temporarily relocate residents, but by Monday, most had either returned to their communities or were welcome to return. Brookdale Asheville Overlook and Brookdale Hendersonville East are under water-boil orders, and Brookdale Walden Ridge and Brookdale Greeneville are experiencing water outages.
For communities without water or under boil notices, Brookdale indicated that it is providing bottled water, bringing in water trucks and providing sanitary wipes.
LeadingAge Tennessee Executive Director Gwyn Earl said none of the association’s members were affected by the storm, so many are participating in getting drinking water to drop off points and facilitating generator and fuel deliveries for buildings in need.
“We’re here for those in need,” LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan said in a statement. “Our members have over the years donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to aid staff, residents and member organizations who’ve been harmed by natural disasters. Although the impact of these uncontrollable events can be far-reaching and long lasting, we are here to help see it through.”
The Florida Senior Living Association said it was proud of the state’s senior living communities for their “quick action, hard work and dedication” to the residents and staff they serve.
“Working together is the best way for us to support our communities in the path of a natural disaster,” FSLA President and CEO Gail Matillo told McKnight’s Senior Living. “Whether it’s helping one of our members evacuate their residents safely or connecting others to critical resources, FSLA will be there around the clock during a state of emergency.”
