When the March 26 call went out to house 1,800 people evacuated from Fargo hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities, Benedictine Health System (BHS) facilities in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota answered.

To date, BHS facilities in Dickinson, Ellendale, Garrison, and Wahpeton, North Dakota, Sisseton, South Dakota, and Ada, Minn., have welcomed 93 evacuated residents. They arrived via ambulance, Metro evacuation buses, transport vans, air ambulance, a 757 donated by Northwest and even the National Guard. Administrators from Prince of Peace Care Center, Ellendale, North Dakota, and Tekakwitha Nursing Center, Sisseton, South Dakota, drove their facility vans 90 miles to Fargo to help with evacuation.

“Everything was incredibly organized in Fargo. All the residents were ready with their paperwork, medications and their belongings in pillow case,” said Jim Cornelius, Tekakwitha administrator/CEO. “It felt good that we were doing something good for people in need.”

To accommodate the evacuation, North Dakota lifted the nursing home bed license requirements. As a result, St. Catherine’s Living Center, Wahpeton, North Dakota, opened a wing that had been temporarily closed. With help from the community – North Dakota State College of Science students who delivered the 26 beds loaned from the dorm rooms and a dozen high school students from Wahpeton and Campbell, Minn., who helped make the beds – St. Catherine’s admitted 46 residents in one day. CEO Emmy Tretter, who although on the job for less than a month, greeted each new guest at the door, while a multitude waited inside to help put these residents at ease as much as possible.

“With 48 residents coming into the facility and 46 coming in one day, I was so impressed with our staff stepping up and working as a team,” Tretter said. “I can’t say enough about our staff and the Wahpeton community that donated hotel rooms, beds, bedding and time helping us out. They really fulfilled the BHS mission with regard to hospitality.”

Although staff from the evacuated facilities could accompany evacuated residents, only two CNAs came with the 46 residents, due to the flooding of their own homes. “St. Catherine’s staff had to scramble to get their own staff to come in and they did, filling extra shifts, doing doubles, whatever it took to take care of these residents, and they did so with a smile on their faces,” said Kelly Danielson, BHS nurse consultant who happened to be onsite when the residents arrived. St. Catherine’s food services even provided refreshments to the transport staff before they returned to the flood zone.

Until Bethany Homes, one of the evacuated Fargo facilities, was able to send additional staff and equipment, St. Catherine’s CNAs and nurses worked double shifts. “The team effort of Bethany and St. Catherine’s shows that our first and foremost concern is the care of our vulnerable adults in North Dakota,” Tretter added.

Prince of Peace Care Center, Ellendale, North Dakota, became home to 18 evacuees, a few who were seriously ill. On arrival, each resident was given a full assessment to ensure that staff knew their condition, their care needs, and them as individuals. “When they come in our doors, they become family of Prince of Peace,” said Tony Hanson, administrator/CEO. “It’s amazing how our employees extend the Core Values and they do more than they normally do just to make sure the residents are comfortable.”

As word gets out in a small town, the community gets involved, Hanson added. “We had volunteers coming in that we’ve never seen before.” When 20 inches of snow fell knocking out the power for three hours, volunteers helped clear snow, trekked out in 4 wheel drives to pick up staff, or whatever assistance was needed. “I am proud of how our staff and community got behind this effort.”

One of the nine residents evacuated to St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson, North Dakota, celebrated her birthday. The facility helped her celebrate with a corsage and a balloon that is still proudly tied to her wheelchair.

In the meantime, St. Rose Care Center, LaMoure, North Dakota, was facing its own challenge with the rising waters of the James River. Staff there were monitoring the flood level every half hour, while gathering residents’ belongings and preparing paperwork in the event of an evacuation. A few employees went out to help with the sand bags.

“Many of our staff faced the flooding at their own homes, so others pitched in to keep the facility covered, even staying overnight to help out,” explained Helen Wamstad, St. Rose CEO/administrator.

By March 27, the waters began to recede and St. Rose switched modes and sent word they were available to receive evacuated residents. “Our employees are amazing group. Even when the blizzard hit, staff members were going across the street to donate blood at the blood drive,” Wamstad added.

In Ada, Minn., Bridges Care Community is caring for two Fargo evacuees, who wanted to be placed near their families. “We have about a quarter of our employees affected by the flood. Some even have sand bag dikes surrounding their homes,” said Katie Redig, administrator. “With so many having difficulty getting to work, we have adjusted our schedules to accommodate staff while continuing to provide care for all our residents. It’s helpful to have such dedicated employees.”

Officials in Fargo are monitoring their situation and planning for the return of the evacuated residents. “Until then, Benedictine hospitality is being extended to those in need,” asserted Kevin Greff, BHS vice president of operations for North and South Dakota. “This is what we do in fulfilling the Benedictine Mission and Core Values. When people need us we’re there.”

“Our Mission and Core Values have swelled and carried us through. Now, we are gearing up to say goodbye to these people who have become our family,” Hanson added.

The Benedictine Health System is a Catholic, non-profit long term care health system based in Duluth, Minn. Sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, BHS owns and/or operates nursing homes, assisted and independent housing in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Additional information may be found at www.bhshealth.org.