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Emergency plans are required of each facility, tailored to the locale. Each covers a host of variables, such as backup power equipment, emergency supplies, medical deliveries and staffing

protocols. Regular testing is part of the plan, as well; Genesis’ Ocala facility had just run through a power outage drill two weeks before Irma inundated the state with its unprecedented

rains.  While Texas officials recommended a shelter-in-place for most area residents and businesses in Harvey’s path, Genesis made the decision to evacuate facilities in danger zones. “If

you can, shelter-in-place is better,” Hager says. “But given the enormity of the storms, I’m glad we made the decision to evacuate.”   Genesis knows the impact of close regulatory oversight.

In June, the company agreed to pay $53.6 million to settle allegations that facilities it had bought in 2012 or obtained in a 2015 merger had submitted false claims. Genesis denied the

allegations, noting that the matters arose prior to the transactions.  The recent natural disasters ushered in an all-hands-on-deck mentality at Genesis. Executives from regions outside the

storms served as drivers, shuttling residents from evacuated facilities to safe locations. Extra buses and U-Haul trucks were rented where needed. Genesis also provided evacuated Texas

residents with backpacks filled with several days of their medications, copies of medical charts and a change of clothing. Dozens of staffers left their homes and families to accompany

evacuated residents.  When the situation finally settles down, Genesis will take the lessons learned from Harvey and Irma to refine its disaster preparedness plans yet again.  “We came

through this without incident. In hindsight, we could have deployed even more resources to support people,” says Hager, who spent six days in Florida and Texas speaking with local workers to

hear what worked and to glean suggestions for improvements.  But until more operators take emergency disaster planning seriously, Farmer says, older people living in nursing homes are still

at risk. “It shouldn’t be a surprise if something like this happens again,” he says.