Miami Cerebral Palsy Residential Services, Inc.
An affiliate of United Community Options of South Florida, formerly United Cerebral Palsy since 1947
Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID)
A Private, Not for Profit Agency Established in 1984
2200 NW 107th Avenue • Miami, Florida 33172
(305) 599-0899 • Fax: (305) 599-2721
September 14, 2017
Dear Residents, Staff, Friends & Families:
We are alive and well and trying to get back to normal as soon as possible. Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you all as we work to put Hurricane Irma behind us. An experience like this truly demonstrates the resilience and spirit of MCP residents and staff.
Because we were well-prepared, we were able to keep all of our residents in their residences at 80th, Braddock and NW facilities with personal safety as our paramount priority. I'm proud to say that we also were able to successfully evacuate Sunset to MCP central and they weathered the storm with us. While all Sunset equipment worked without failure, FPL did an early shut down of a station. While our generators successfully ran throughout the storm, our propane generator tanks have a capacity of 92 hours and we did not want to risk running low after the storm, being that the generators kicked in 24 hours before the storm was predicted to occur. Not knowing how long the hurricane and recovery process would last, we decided it was safest to transfer Sunset to central before the storm.
Not only did we keep everyone safe, we achieved another goal of maintaining a high sense of normalcy. Many of our programs and activities continued as usual while Irma raged outside. We celebrated a resident and staff birthday and staff even cooked a cake in the microwave for the occasion. I want to extend a special thank-you to all of our dedicated and loyal employees who, stayed on property the entire time to ensure all residents were safe, secure, and busy.
As of now all residential facilities are up in running on FPL power and our central lifelong training program is being restored, while running on generator – as I write this. MASS electric just knocked on our door indicating they plan to have us up in running today. Over the next week we will continue our current assessment and recovery phase, checking all equipment, making any needed repairs and restocking our emergency supply closets at all locations.
Although we came through the hurricane in very good shape, I recognize that many of our neighbors, friends, and families and other agencies face a daunting recovery effort. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
I've always considered my role with MCP a "labor of love." I've always believed that MCP is a truly special place to live and work. Especially today, I am reminded of how very grateful I am for each of you. Please know I will remain at MCP and promise not to go home until we are 100% operational at all locations.
Sincerely,
Marta E. Morin, Chief Operations Officer
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