Santee-Lynches Area Agency on Aging and Councils on Aging Ready & Prepared for Dorian
PRESS RELEASE: Oct. 14, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Connie Munn (803-774-1376)
Local Councils on Aging delivered 986 shelf stable meals in advance of Hurricane Dorian threat.
SUMTER, SC – As Hurricane Dorian approached the coast of South Carolina and the potential for the path to enter our state loomed, the Santee-Lynches Area Agency on Aging (SLAAA), which falls under the Santee-Lynches Councils of Governments (COG) umbrella, in partnership with the local Councils on Aging (COAs) took quick action to enact the Regional Emergency Plan. The SLAAA is required to update the Regional Emergency Plan annually in coordination with the Clarendon County COA, Kershaw County COA, Lee County COA and Sumter Senior Services.
The purpose of the plan is to ensure that when the threat of an emergency or disaster looms, the collective group does all it can to minimize and eliminate the disruption of services to senior clients who receive home delivered meals. Once the SLAAA notified each county COA of Hurricane Dorian’s possible path, they immediately began coordinating the delivery of shelf stable meals and morale and welfare checks to clients within their respective counties. Each provider confirmed their seniors were safe and prepared, and they delivered shelf stable meals prior to Hurricane Dorian reaching the South Carolina coastline. The dedication and pursuit of excellence by our COAs was truly noteworthy. Janae Stowe the Health & Human Services Manager for SLAAA stated, “I cannot begin to verbalize my appreciation for the COAs and their continuous hard work and compassion for our seniors during the potential threat. Our providers ability to respond so quickly is recognized as a best practice.”
In total 986 shelf stable meals were delivered to our seniors. Clarendon County COA delivered 219, Kershaw County COA delivered 121, Lee County COA delivered 316, and Sumter Senior Services delivered 330. The Santee-Lynches COG and SLAAA wish to express our sincerest appreciation for having such professional partners to care for our seniors. Connie Munn, SLAAA Director, stated, “Over the past few years, our region experienced several major disastersto include the “1,000” Year flood, and in each case, the COAs and our agency has become more adept at taking care of our most vulnerable and isolated population, our seniors. The threat of Hurricane Dorian showcased that the SLAAA and the Clarendon County COA, Kershaw County COA, Lee County COA, and Sumter Senior Services are poised to provide premier service to our aging population at a moment’s notice. This effort was empowered by each of our COAs taking the time to ensure their individual emergency plan content was current. It is a small thing, yet an excellent illustration of being premier. It is the small, mundane tasks that often go unnoticed that make the difference during a disaster. Our COAs are the boots on the ground that make things happen and we are very appreciative of them!”
About Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments
Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments is a premier organization committed to optimizing our region’s unique strengths for a better tomorrow. Our mission is to deliberately enhance the quality of life and provide opportunities for the advancement of our region. Santee-Lynches serves the counties and cities of Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter. To learn more, visit santeelynchescog.org.
Santee-Lynches COG is a member of the South Carolina Councils of Government (SC COGs). The SC COGs are a network of the 10 regional councils of governments working to positively affect quality of life and economic development in South Carolina. SC COGs serve as an extension of local and county governments to provide technical assistance, secure state and federal dollars to address critical issues, and advocate at a state and national level for economic and quality of life improvements for South Carolina. To learn more, visit sccogs.org or visit santeelynchescog.org.