Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia have been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene, which has caused over 100 deaths along with damage and economic losses that may exceed $100 billion. No senior living resident deaths or significant injuries have occurred as a result of Hurricane Helene.
Reports from Argentum State Partners in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia:
- Florida has significantly addressed power outages with only 5 assisted living communities in the state without power as of this morning. There were 27 assisted living communities forced to evacuate and we understand some have already returned.
- Georgia was severely impacted in the north coastal, central, southern, and southern coastal areas. Power outages are still rampant and generators are being utilized in most affected counties. Due to outages, only some communities are able to report status. The Georgia Senior Living Association (GSLA) is working with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the State Operations Center to monitor senior living facility issues, needs, and status. Providers are at the top of the restoration lists for power companies, but progress is slow. Communication is coming through area GEMA partners. Generators and oxygen are the most significant requests at this time. Two additional significant issues have exacerbated relief efforts. On Sunday, a large biochemical lab fire created a shelter-in-place situation throughout Rockdale County (just east of the City of Atlanta). It raised an air quality warning for most of north Georgia today; schools and long-term care facilities have amended activities to comply. Additionally, a large metro water pumping station failure today has impacted water for all residents south of I-20 in Metro Atlanta. Communities are functioning within their Emergency Disaster Plans and doing well. The priority will be power and water restoration in the coming days.
- North Carolina continues to be severely impacted, particularly in the western part of the state in Buncombe County and surrounding areas. Impassable roads and similar factors are affecting the flow of supplies and commodities. No North Carolina Assisted Living Association (NCALA) assisted living member communities have been forced to evacuate. Some assisted living communities are still without power, but cell phone service is mostly restored due to workarounds with various phone companies. NCALA is also working with the NC Department of Health and Human Services and NC Attorney General’s Office regarding staffing and other related resident care rule waivers that fall outside of life essential functions. We also are aware of efforts with the NC National Guard to get medications into the Asheville area.
- Virginia has experienced some significant flooding in the southwestern area of the state. To date, no significant incidents have been reported to the Virginia Assisted Living Association impacting assisted and senior living communities.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters is the willingness of senior living providers to help each other putting resident safety and wellbeing at the forefront. Resident safety is only possible through the preparation and heroic efforts being conducted by staff in senior living communities and we can never thank them enough for always putting the residents they love and care for first.
If you have any questions or concerns related to the storm, or if you should need any assistance, please reach out to Paul Williams with Argentum (pwilliams@argentum.org) or our respective State Partners:
Florida Senior Living Association
Gail Matillo, President & CEO | gmatillo@floridaseniorliving.org
Georgia Senior Living Association
Catie Ramp, President & CEO | catie@gasla.org
Argentum Counsel in South Carolina
Rex and Patrick Kneece | rkneece65@aol.com, patrick@kneecelawfirm.com
North Carolina Assisted Living Association
Frances Messer, Executive Director | frances@ncala.org
Virginia Assisted Living Association
Judy Hackler, Executive Director | jhackler@valainfo.org