UMH operates 10 communities in New Jersey that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. They engaged in extensive pre-planning, practicing evacuation scenarios, and building relationships with emergency responders. When the hurricane approached, UMH activated their command center, began daily system-wide calls, and prepared communities for potential evacuation. They eventually made the decision to evacuate on October 28, moving over 1,000 residents and staff out of harm's way. The evacuation was successful with minimal damage, though some associates lost their homes. UMH identified best practices like comprehensive engagement and clear plans, as well as lessons for future storms.

1. www.wordle.net
The UMH Sandy
Experience
2013

2. TEN COMMUNITIES
located statewide
• Five full service
• Five affordable housing
• Centralized Home
Office
• 1400 Residents
• 1000 Associates
UMH

3. Pre-planning
Learning from others:
Louisiana, Florida, Texas…
Irene
2012 Emergency Preparedness Conference September 25th

4. Pre-planning
Practicing Through Table Top
Scenarios:
Leadership
Associates
Residents
Volunteers
First Responders
2011 "Escape The Cape" Exercise
Category I Hurricane

5. Relationship Building
Office of Emergency
Management
Community Emergency
Response Teams (CERT)
Police, Fire fighters,
Other Community Resources

6. All Starts in the Planning
Leadership Responsibilities
Time Frames
Evacuation Sites
(Memorandums of
Understanding)
Supply Needs
Staffing
Financial Needs
Transportation Needs
Communication
Avenues
Building closure steps
Equipment Needs
Building Reentry Steps
Contact information
Vendor Partnership Responsibilities
Special Resident Needs
Pet Evacuation

7. Hurricane Sandy

8. Wednesday, October 24
• Ongoing monitoring of the
storm
• Emergency Management
and Insurance Carrier
Communication
Preparing for both Shelter
in Place and Evacuation

9. Setting the Stage
•Team Meetings to establish assignments
•Resident and Associate Meetings
•Information Gathering:
What Residents are traveling with us?
What Residents are going with family?
Completed Contact Form and Rosters initiated
•Notify transportation companies that they are on
call for potential evacuation: Buses;
Wheelchair Vans; Ambulances
•Notify evacuation sites and hotels of potential
evacuation
October 24, 2012

10. Evacuation Readiness
October 25, 2013
Home Office
Command Center Established
Call Center Initiated
Twice Daily System Wide
Conference Calls

11. Evacuation Readiness
October 25, 2013
Evacuating Communities Prepping for Move
Gathering and Packing Supplies
• Food
• Medical Supplies
• Medication
• Medical Charts
• Linens
• Activities

12. Evacuation Readiness
October 25, 2013
Destination Communities
Preparing for evacuated
residents and staff

13. Evacuation Decision
October 26, 2013
Larry Carlson, CEO/President relates to the UMH
System via conference call that our communities must
evacuate; evacuation will take place on Sunday
October 28, 2012
UMH Board Chair
Blesses the team for
Godspeed Care in
all of our efforts.

14. Evacuation Preparations
Items to be moved are
placed in lobby for
efficient mobilization to
buses and trucks
Residents waiting to travel;
Lanyards placed on residents
October 27, 2013

15. Evacuation Day
October 27, 2012
Moving trucks arrive at
identified time to pack
equipment, boxes,…..
Utilized Medical Equipment
Moving Vans

16. Evacuation Day
Teams established at each community to
support loading of buses, ambulances…
Communication between evacuation sites,
team leaders, and destinations as
transportation left communities.

17. Evacuation Day

18. Evacuation Day to Day Activity

19. Return to Home
October 31 and November 1, 2013

20. STORM DAMAGE:
Evacuation - $350k
Minimal at the Shores
FAM Roof, foundation
BTM Roof and subsequent apartments
Post Storm:
Assessment of Storm Damage
October 30 and thereon…..

21. Post Storm:
Associate Benevolent Fund
Some Associates returned finding they
had lost their homes.

22. Post Storm:
Assessment of Storm Damage
October 30 and thereon…..
Financial Coverage
FEMA ?
Insurance ?

23. Best
Practices
• Corporate-wide Engagement
• Proven Evacuation Plan
• Relationships with OEM
• Supportive Vendor
Partnerships
• Central Command Center
• Communication Avenues
• Staffing Initiatives
• Contracts in place for
transportation, housing…
• IT
• Activity Programming
• Medical Equipment Transport

24. Lessons Learned
• Generator
Needs/Loads
• Vendor
Trust/Prevention
• Electric Grid/Power
Priority
• Sub Command Center
• Gasoline Resources
• Refrigeration
• Laundry
• Beds
• Second Tier of
Evacuation Sites

25. Sandy
We don’t miss her
but
We will never forget her.