Argentum, the leading advocacy group for professionally managed assisted living and other senior living care communities, is keeping close tabs on the path of Hurricane Ian as it makes its way to the United States this week with anticipated landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida and potential inland movement toward the Orlando area.
Argentum members in the state are working with their state affiliate – the Florida Senior Living Association (FSLA) – regarding resident evacuation orders, executing emergency plans, ensuring adequate supplies, and maintaining communication with families, staff, and emergency officials at all levels of government.
The mostly likely path of Ian is predicted to impact senior living communities from Tampa to Naples and inland over the next two to three days.
Gail Matillo, president and chief executive officer, FSLA, said the Argentum affiliate has been in contact with state officials and county emergency management offices.
“We are keeping in regular contact with AHCA [the Agency for Health Care Administration] officials and have staff working at the Emergency Management Office to help communities with evacuating, locating available beds, supplies, or whatever needs they have,” she said.
“We are receiving and relaying the latest information to our communities and are working with them to enter data into the state’s Health Facility Reporting System. We know that many providers have already evacuated many buildings and are reviewing the evolving situation for potential action at other communities relative to the latest storm direction.”
She said Florida’s senior living communities have progressed greatly in the past few years on hurricane preparedness, noting the only difficulties being experienced at this time are some transportation issues and last-minute evacuations in south Florida.
“Since we’ve experienced these storms many times, FSLA has jumped into action to get things done. We held a call yesterday with AHCA Secretary Simone Marstiller and Deputy Secretary Kim Smoak regarding hurricane preparations.
“Jason Hand, FSLA’s vice president of public policy and legal affairs, has been at the emergency management office working with communities that are evacuating, staff are monitoring the Health Facility Reporting System and helping members report their data daily, and we are communicating directly with communities. We are praying for everyone’s safety during Hurricane Ian.”
The following are contact information numbers for the emergency:
- State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at (800) 342-3557
- Emergency Support Function-8 Planning Desk at the State Emergency Operations Center (850) 245-4878
- FSLA – Gail Matillo (850) 496-2562
- FSLA – Jason Hand (850) 443-0024
- FSLA – Sheri LeaJean (850) 708-4971
- FSLA – Meredith Van Valkenburgh (850) 755-6583
- FSLA – Heather Conley (850) 708-4972
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