It was a hard decision that Administrator Rita Crabtree had to make when evacuating The Palace on Sunday, May 2.

“After carefully assessing the current situation and discussing the options with the various emergency support systems in our city and county, we made the decision to implement our emergency plan for evacuation,” said Crabtree.

The plan included moving residents who required more medical care to area hospitals and the others to the National Guard Armory by bus, company transportation, and ambulance. Members of The Palace staff were dispatched to hospitals and the Armory where they continued to care for their patients and residents. Nurse’s stations with medical records and medications were quickly established in addition to resident care areas, dietary services, and community areas for dining and socialization. “Resident care was almost seamless,” said Sandra Clements, Director of Nursing Services.

The Palace was established in 1962 as a 40 bed facility. Since that time, it has grown to a 119 bed health care center. During the 1969 flood, the facility did not require evacuation and was not flooded. “I am happy to say that once again the facility was not flooded,” said Crabtree. “Because the medical needs of our patients is more complex, we felt it necessary to make the move according to our evacuation plan. Each resident and patient were moved and care provided, as it would have been at the facility.

At this time, residents and patients are anticipating the return to The Palace later on Monday by the same mode of transportation. “I have never been more proud to be the administrator of The Palace,” said Crabtree.

“I am humbled by the outpouring of community support by emergency services, individual volunteers, health care neighbors, and of course, by the commitment of The Palace staff. It is human nature to look for the good in such situations,” said Crabtree.

She goes on to describe on moment that she called a ‘shining’ moment.

“The daughter of one of our couples came on Sunday to take her mother and father home until the emergency had passed. At 4:00 a.m. on Monday she brought them back to The Palace as her father had insisted that he wanted to go home. I cannot think of a better compliment. It is precious examples such as this that reinforces in each of us that we are on a mission of importance.”