After the Storm: Springfield Help at Home Staff is There to Help

All told, more than 230,000 people in Illinois were left without power by a derecho with hurricane strength winds.

“I’m responsible for 25 office staff, 2,000 field staff and more than 2,000 clients,” said Branch Manager Dana Platt. “I had to do something.”

Clients on oxygen needed power backup; all needed heat relief

Dana and the other office staff began calling clients with the highest priority on clients who were on oxygen and had limited time on their backup power supply. Family members for some were on the way to pick them up, but those that didn’t have family very much appreciated the emergency outreach as soon as possible and reassurance that Help at Home was there to help.

From left to right: Buck Chilton, Tina Hull, Kimmtria Matthews, Denise Platt, Marlaina Alwerdt, Laura Strubhart, Becky Morgan, LaTonya Griffin, Kristen Henke, Dana Platt. Bottom row left to right: Brooke Courville, Jennifer Hamilton Roberta Carnes

As the heat index rose – reaching 101 on the day after the storm – caregivers in the field shifted to identify the fastest way to secure clients with air conditioning. They also wanted to make sure they had food – despite not having refrigeration or cooking appliances.

Caregivers helped clients move to churches or emergency shelters. Some stayed at the Help at Home office to get out of the heat for the day because it was the best option available during the emergency situation. The office staff brought in a barbecue grill and had a cook out in the Help at Home office parking lot.

“What a great group of staff I have,” Dana said. “They went that extra mile and helped all these clients in a time of need, when they were in the same situation. Out of the 25 staff members in this office only two of us had power at home.”

Caring for the Caregivers

With clients and caregivers taken care of a few days after the storm, Dana was able to turn her attention to the Help at Home staff themselves, who were working tirelessly to help clients deal with the situation.

Two days after the storm, Dana’s own power was back on. She kept the office open through the weekend and her family cooked more spaghetti than she has ever cooked in her life! She picked up some pizzas and headed into the office – welcoming anyone on the staff and their families to come enjoy a hot meal in the cooled air. She also encouraged them to come in to charge their family’s phones.

“I cooked them all a hot meal, bought them pizza, brought in games, toys, drinks, anything I could think of to help them know that they are appreciated,” she said. “I didn’t want them to feel alone in this terrible time.”