As Hurricane Sandy barreled up the Northeast coast today, long term care facilities shifted into emergency-preparedness mode with some communities opting to evacuate before the storm’s devastation reached landfall.
Wind gusts of nearly 100 miles per hour expected Monday evening prompted providers to evacuate hundreds of residents up and down the east coast, while others sheltered in place with generator backups and well-stocked supply rooms.
In Rhode Island, Apple Rehab Watch Hill evacuated its 51 residents yesterday without incident, according to the Providence Journal website.
In New York City, hospitals and nursing homes located in the primary hurricane zones were ordered to evacuate, but some likely sheltered in place with approval of state health officials, according to NBCnewyork.com.
In New Jersey, 900 residents were evacuated from nursing homes and assisted living communities before the hurricane hit landfall Monday evening, according to Greg Crist, vice president of public affairs for the American Health Care Association (AHCA).
"AHCA's state affiliates have been tracking Sandy since last week and working with their local and state emergency preparedness teams around the clock," said Crist. "We feel good about events so far."
Updates from the National Hurricane Center can be found here, and public health and medical emergency support resources are available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Emergency website.
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