Refugee All-stars

Published 6:29 pm Monday, November 24, 2008

From their boats to their friends’ couches, Islanders sought out warmth and comfort in some interesting places last week.

Concerned relatives checking on elderly Covenant Shores residents found them so content that they wanted to stay there themselves, said associate administrator Jennifer Means.

The Island retirement home had its own generator to power the heat and lights. Residents of the separate independent living facility were able to join their neighbors in the health center, which was being serviced by the generator.

“I think in a way it was exciting for people to interact with their neighbors, read, wrap gifts… some even started singing Christmas carols,” Means said.

When the power went out in the lodge briefly on Saturday, they had to pack up their usual dining room and move it to another location, but no one seemed to mind, Means said. “I think they were very appreciative of how we worked together to make it work smoothly,” she said.

Jo Ellen Watts, the maintenance coordinator at Sunrise Assisted Living, was especially appreciative that her Island retirement home is part of a national network that was able to provide support from all over the country.

“Our corporate headquarters in Virginia drove us generators from California, blast furnaces from Portland, and the regional directors of operations all showed up and flew in two extra maintenance people to help,” Watts said.

She said the 50 residents under care for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia were all safe, warm and happy.

The biggest help was the 33-foot refrigerated trailer brought in by their food supplier. The trailer’s freezer section preserved the 10 gallons of ice cream that turned out to be the home’s most precious commodity. Without that, she said, Sunrise would have had real problems.

Meow town

Many Islanders were at a loss for what to do with their pets during the power outage, so when the calls came in to Island Cats, the local veterinary hospital said they would take them in.

With the help of an additional kitty condo, a two-story cat housing complex on wheels, they were able to accommodate about a dozen more pets than their normal capacity allows.

“It’s the holidays, so we were already booked,” said manager Amy Koeniger. “But we found kennels for all of them.” On Monday, their busiest day, the clinic had 35 cats boarded as guests.

The clinic was without power as well until Sunday, but thanks to a well-insulated boarding facility, Koeniger said the back room where the cats stay kept quite warm. “From what I hear, they did really well,” she said. It was only the owners who were anxious.

“It’s a hard time. People are really emotional,” she said. “There wasn’t a lot of publication about what to do.” Koeniger pointed out that the Humane Society, always a good resource for pet owners with questions, also stepped out of its normal scope of services to board animals as well.

Got a tip for Around the Island? E-mail cody.ellerd@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/mi-reporter.