Prior planning helped Groves nursing home weather the storm
Published 5:30 pm Thursday, September 21, 2017
By David Ball
GROVES — Kenny Blanda, administrative director for Magnolia Manor, a nursing home and retirement and assisted living facility in Groves, said everyone’s experience with Tropical Storm Harvey was different, his nursing home happened to be one of the fortunate ones to come out unscathed.
“We had a tough go here, but we managed to keep all our patients sheltered in place,” he said. “It was a very unusual storm, but we made it through with a great staff who cared for the patients. Particularly when half of our staff lost personal property or had it damaged and they still continued everything they could possibly do. I’m greatly appreciative.”
As reported previously in the Port Arthur News, other nursing homes had to evacuate and one in particular is facing a lawsuit over allegation of neglect in the face of a devastating flood.
Blanda said the key to his success was planning.
Blanda said the nursing home meets with local emergency management officials when something is threatening in the Gulf of Mexico. He said they’re in constant communication with local leaders.
“We’re making certain decisions that all require an emergency preparedness plan. It could be in regard to a fire, tornado or a hurricane,” he said.
Magnolia Manor didn’t have to evacuate for Harvey because the city of Groves was not under a mandatory evacuation order. Blanda and the staff chose to be a shelter in place instead. He added that the emergency plan outlines meeting food, water, medication, staffing and care needs.
Blanda said he had to evacuate nursing homes five times in his career including for hurricanes Rita, Ike and Gustav.
“The company writes the policies and procedures. It’s then approved by the city fire marshal and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. It meets regulatory requirements,” he said. “We review it only minimally, like two or three times a year in review.”
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services’ website notes that a facility facing an evacuation should have a plan in place and another location already lined up to take residents.
