Collier County senior living facility reveals its hurricane survival plan

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—Senior living facilities in coastal areas face unique challenges during hurricane season, from power outages to evacuating residents who may need extra help.

The Glenview at Pelican Bay has a generator capable of powering the entire community, including air conditioning, elevators, and critical medical equipment. Staff says the building becomes a coordinated operation when a storm threatens Collier County.

"We generally begin with evacuation mock drills, so everybody understands their role and responsibility during a storm, including residents," said Executive Director Daniel Gomez.

The building is in evacuation zone A. A waterline from Hurricane Ian still marks how high the floodwaters reached.

Gomez said the generator is one of the biggest factors keeping people safe when a storm hits. "If you have breathing machines, oxygen tanks, things like that, they can still maintain on our power distribution to the generator," Gomez said. "The generator also supports our cooling tower, so our cooling tower, which supports the air conditioning throughout the community."

Officials say residents should have both a Family Emergency Plan and an Emergency Supply Kit stocked with food, water and medications, and review both at the start of every hurricane season.

As of August 2025, disaster preparedness items are tax-exempt, making it a good time to restock supplies.

Emergency Management and Resilience Director Ryan Lamb said the single most important step residents can take is making a plan.

"The most important step is to make a plan now," Lamb said. "That includes knowing your evacuation zone, reviewing your insurance coverage and assembling basic emergency supplies."

Lamb said preparing early gives residents more options and less stress when a storm is actually approaching.

Beverly Fuss was at Glenview during Hurricane Milton. She knows the uncertainty of watching a powerful storm move toward Florida.

"Everybody was afraid, and no one knows what a hurricane is going to do, and this was rather strong," Fuss said.

Gomez said the evacuation plan during Milton worked because it wasn't improvised. That matters for people like Fuss who want to feel secure during uncertainty.

"Well, it is traumatic, and you don't really know what's happening," Fuss said. "We were well taken care of, and the staff was so good here."

Fuss vividly remembers the evacuation for Hurricane Milton. What she believes made the difference that day was organization. Staff says that kind of calm only happens when the plan, the people, and the power are ready before the storm.