DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- Seniors who evacuated to North Texas during Hurricane Laura are preparing to return to the Texas Coast. Senior living facilities in cities and counties with mandatory evacuation orders had to find other facilities for their residents.
"There really is a lot that goes into planning a move like that," says Chuck Childress, the executive director of Ventana by Buckner in Dallas.
Ventana by Buckner took 49 residents from one of the non-profit's facilities in Beaumont. In addition to residents, 35 staff and caregivers followed with supplies that would be needed and stayed in hotels.
"We've got some fantastic associates who work and serve our residents," Childress says. "They did a great job of getting them to us."
Childress says employees, caregivers and residents from both Beaumont and Dallas were tested for COVID-19 when the evacuation began. Ventana by Buckner opened about a year ago, so he says the facility still had two open wings with furnished rooms to house those from Beaumont and ensure distancing.
Residents from both facilities, employees and caregivers were tested before moving.
"When this all started, there was no 'how-to' manual for this, so we had to really adapt," Childress says.
Buckner did have an existing emergency plan in case moving residents became necessary because of a natural disaster. Childress says that plan was activated when the hurricane moved into the Gulf of Mexico, and the procedures helped staff prepare the supplies they would need and make the necessary notifications to family.
Some residents are living with dementia. Childress says bringing staff from Beaumont can help those residents adjust to a change in location.
"The one constant for them is bringing the team members they're familiar with and used to working with," he says.
Buckner has surveyed its facilities in Beaumont. They were not damaged, so residents will return Saturday.
The non-profit also houses children awaiting adoption and foster families in Beaumont at Buckner Children and Family Services. In addition to evacuees bused to Dallas, some children and families were taken to the organization's "Camp Buckner" in Burnett and to facilities in Houston and Austin.
The organization is taking donations at buckner.org.