Cleaning Homes, Delivering Diapers, Giving Rides: Elevance Health Associates Join Hurricane Recovery
Hurricane Helene swept across the southeastern United States in late September 2024, causing severe flooding, road closures, multi-state power outages, and tragically many deaths. On Helene’s heels, Hurricane Milton cut across a swath of Florida already reeling in the aftermath of Helene.
Healthcare concerns quickly become emergencies when people are cut off from electricity, refrigeration, and transportation. Beyond the physical damage it causes, a hurricane can also negatively affect mental health and well-being. When people must evacuate from their homes, they have a harder time accessing medications and can experience worsened health conditions. Elevance Health partners with national and local community-based organizations and government agencies to get help to where it’s most needed.
“In addition to our affiliated health plans’ efforts to help people access their most immediate medical needs, we are also partnering with local organizations to help communities get water, food and shelter,” said Gail K. Boudreaux, Elevance Health president and chief executive officer. Elevance Health and its Foundation have together addressed these needs with more than $2.65 million in donations to the American Red Cross, Americares, Team Rubicon and others for safe shelters, meals, debris removal, home repair and more.
“Elevance Health values our local ties – community is one of our company’s core values,” Boudreaux said. “When our neighbors need help, we take it to heart, and we are hands-on.”
Elevance Health associates saw opportunities to help and have jumped on them: Misty Lee of Virginia arranged shipments of bottled water, plastic bags, tissues and baby wipes to four locations, and she personally delivered needed supplies to health plan members. Carl LaFerney of Virginia bought bottled water in the Lynchburg area and drove it an hour to Roanoke, where store shelves were bare. Josh Wright of Virginia ventured into flooded areas to deliver 900 diapers. Adam Perez of North Carolina secured three pallets of bottled water and 900 cans of baby formula from a corporate retail partner for Western North Carolina. Tina Fleck of Florida has cleaned out homes and given rides to neighbors whose cars were destroyed.
Working directly through associates and local non-profits, Elevance Health and its affiliated health plans have delivered portable energy sources via helicopter, distributed medicine and relief supplies, reached out to health plan members to offer assistance, and helped clear roads and homes of debris.
Read more below to hear firsthand from associates:
Elevance Health associate Terry Jordan, a volunteer with Ashe County, North Carolina search and rescue, helping a woman and her dog off the roof of a flooded house.
“The devastation from this storm has never been experienced here. All schools are now distribution centers or housing for people experiencing homelessness. Everyone is helping each other—cooking meals, checking on neighbors. While the county may never be the same, I believe it will be built back stronger and healthier than ever.” -- Elevance Health associate Terry Jordan, North Carolina
Elevance Health associate Andrew Piske with K-9 Kyra, volunteers with search and rescue for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
“I am a volunteer Search And Rescue (SAR) K-9 handler for the Virginia SAR system. My partner, K-9 Kyra, and I respond to missing persons cases across the state at the request of local, state, and federal authorities. I have been involved in SAR for over 10 years, I love to be able to help families. Elevance Health has always supported my volunteering outside of work and when major disasters like Hurricane Helene occur, my leadership is quick to provide coverage so that I can respond. If it wasn't for my amazing team of direct reports and leadership team, I would not be able to give back to these communities when they need it most.” -- Elevance Health associate Andrew Piske, Virginia
Elevance Health associate Tina Fleck and neighbors collected supplies in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida:
“I assisted with the removal of furniture from houses, spent hours transporting those that lost cars, unloaded, and loaded trucks that delivered supplies to the Indian Rock Beach donation center. I wish I could have done more.” -- Elevance Health associate Tina Fleck, Florida
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