As hurricane loomed, SC assisted living center didn’t act fast enough, state says
As Hurricane Dorian bore down on South Carolina, an assisted living center took too long to evacuate all its residents, state officials say.
Now, Langit’s Assisted Living Facility in North Charleston facility faces penalties, the SC Board of Health and Environmental Control says in a document prepared for a meeting Thursday.
When reached by phone Wednesday, a representative from Langit’s declined to comment.
Hurricane Dorian was coming toward South Carolina when Gov. Henry McMaster called for mandatory evacuations of coastal medical facilities on Sept. 1, state records show.
After the order, eight Langit’s residents made it to another facility, officials say. But dozens of people were still at the North Charleston center on Sept. 4, according to the state board.
“The facility had secured transport to evacuate that morning, but failed to assemble the residents in time before the transportation vehicle left,” the board document said. “The facility had not found an alternative transportation for its 40 remaining residents.”
State officials say they helped Langit’s arrange transportation so residents could evacuate.
In December, the case was resolved with a consent order, in which Langit’s was fined $4,300.
The topic may be discussed during Thursday’s meeting, Laura Renwick, spokesperson for the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, said in an email to McClatchy News.
Hurricane Dorian lashed the South Carolina coast with wind and rain, bringing down trees and flooding roads across the Charleston area, The State reported.
