Elevated Hurricane Preparedness in Liberty Senior Living Communities

By Wendy Foster

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In today’s climate, the terms unprecedented or 100-year storm no longer mean what they once did. Events once considered rare are happening with unsettling frequency. As hurricanes become stronger, more unpredictable, and less confined to coastlines, senior living communities must elevate preparedness to a whole new level. This is especially true for communities located in geographic areas once considered to be climate safe.

Liberty Senior Living operates 22 senior living communities across the Southeast. For this highly respected organization, hurricane preparedness isn’t just a protocol. It is a mission, to safeguard the well-being of residents, staff, and families through every stage of a storm, from advance warning to long-term recovery.

A Wake-Up Call from the Mountains: Pisgah Valley Retirement Community’s Experience with Hurricane Helene

Perhaps no event illustrated this urgency more clearly than Hurricane Helene, which in 2024 shocked many by devastating western North Carolina. This is a region long considered a climate haven, protected by geography from the brunt of extreme weather.

Pisgah Valley Retirement Community is nestled in Hominy Valley in Candler, North Carolina. The beautiful locale, typically known as somewhat of a stable climate zone, was unexpectedly in the storm’s path. The destruction to the area was significant and swift. 

At the retirement community, power and water were lost. Phone service was down, severing communication between residents and their families. It was a frightening and isolating time for many.

Despite the challenges, the team at Pisgah Valley responded swiftly and with tremendous focus and resilience:

• Residents in independent living were safely evacuated by shuttle to the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro as soon as conditions allowed. Thanks to Liberty Senior Living’s corporate support and affiliations, residents unable or unwilling to return once utilities had been only partially restored, were warmly welcomed at Inspire Royal Park, a 55+ community managed by Liberty Senior Living in Matthews, NC.

• Assisted living and healthcare residents remained on campus, with all resources redirected to support their continued care. Bottled water and tanker trucks were brought in to supplement drinking and sanitation needs. Generators provided critical power, and food deliveries continued. Despite the circumstances, operations continued uninterrupted for these residents who needed it most.

• Liberty’s corporate team arrived quickly to assist with emergency repairs, coordinate resources, and even arrange food trucks for staff, providing comfort and morale during intense recovery operations.

As one team member reflected, “Within hours of stabilizing the situation, the marketing team started receiving inquiries about available homes. People realized what a resource we are. We provided safety, security, and companionship at a time when no one would want to be alone and fending for themselves.

A Culture of Preparation and Compassion

The Pisgah Valley response was not luck. It was the result of Liberty Senior Living’s commitment to comprehensive emergency planning. Their preparedness includes:

• Careful and constant monitoring of developing and existing weather conditions

• Year-round training and simulation exercises and contingency plans

• Onsite storage of emergency items

• Coordination with local emergency services

• Cross-community support networks, like those activated between Pisgah Valley and Inspire Royal Park

• Evacuation plans including routes, transportation, and adequate food, supplies, and medication

Even in regions not historically associated with severe weather, Liberty Senior Living does not take anything for granted. The organization evaluates every possible scenario including power failures, water contamination, communication blackouts, and builds flexible plans that can be activated at a moment’s notice.

Why It Matters More Than Ever

Seniors are among the most vulnerable during natural disasters, not just physically, but emotionally. Being isolated and without electricity, food and water, as well as not able to contact loved ones can lead to anxiety, fear, confusion and illness/injury. Liberty Senior Living communities are dedicated to serving not only as shelters from the storm, but as centers of reassurance, structure, and human connection.

Liberty Senior Living understands that responsibility deeply. The company's approach goes beyond checklists. It’s about creating environments where residents and families feel confident that their safety is in capable hands, even in the most uncertain circumstances.

In today’s world, no place is immune from emergency events, and no plan should be static. The world has changed. Preparedness is essentiall.

Liberty Senior Living remains committed to leading the way, through planning, partnership, and an unwavering dedication to those who call their communities home. In today’s world, the true test of a senior living community isn't when skies are clear. It's when the storm hits, and every second counts.

Liberty Senior Living

Liberty Senior Living, LLC, is a division of Liberty Healthcare Management that specializes in senior living and retirement communities. Based in North Carolina and established in 1875, Liberty Healthcare Management is an experienced, family-owned company that has been assisting people to manage their healthcare and residential needs for almost 150 years. To learn more about Liberty Senior Living and the communities they offer, please visit www.LibertySeniorLiving.com .