Christiansburg, Va. – In August of this year, the powerful Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on the United States’ east coast, including the Tidewater region of Virginia. Authorities in the area issued voluntary and mandatory evacuations for low-lying and oceanfront areas as high winds caused severe damage ranging from  downed trees on power lines, cars, homes, and roads; to flooding in many low-lying roads and neighborhoods.  In all, 1.2 million homes and businesses lost power due to Irene.

Fortunately for the elderly residents of CHP’s Checed Warwick apartment community in Newport News, a team of community organizations, property management employees, and several residents pulled together to help take care of those most vulnerable during the storm-created power outages.

Thanks to the Peninsula Agency on Aging, the Neighborhood Watch Coalition, the community resource officers of the Newport News Police Department, and Checed Warwick Property Manager Carolyn Mott, the 48-unit community received many important supplies and care that helped ensure the safety of its residents.

A grant through the Newport News Police Department helped fund a supply of lanterns, flashlights, radios, walkie-talkies, extra batteries, and water, while Checed Warwick staff  provided ice, water, juice, coffee, coolers, and charcoal before the storm hit land.  Upon losing electricity, residents were able to cook on one of the facility’s charcoal grills.  Additionally, several of the community’s own residents volunteered to regularly check on their fellow residents during the storm.

Mott, who has been the property manager at Checed Warwick for 11 years, is proud of how community agencies, staff, and residents all pulled together during the natural disaster to address Checed’s needs. “In what could have easily been a worst-case-scenario, we were truly blessed!” exclaimed Mott.