Siena Lakes' Superior Hurricane Preparedness Keeps Residents Safe

When Diane Messana moved to Siena Lakes, the Erickson Senior Living community in Naples, Fla., she was relieved to know she'd never have to worry about hurricanes again.

Living in her old house in Naples for 13 years, Diane remembers the preparations and fear associated with an impending hurricane. Each time, she prepared by bringing in all of her outdoor furniture, keeping it in her house and garage from May until the beginning of November.

"That way, I wasn't constantly having to move it in and out if a hurricane was coming," she recalls.

Her scariest ordeal was the time her backyard screen enclosure became airborne.

"It blew over the roof of my house and landed in the road. The hurricane blew a lot of stuff into the street and broke my mailbox," she says. "There were trees down out front and out back. Debris was all over. It was a mess."

Better protection

As a Siena Lakes resident when Hurricane Martin hit Naples in 2024, Diane's experience was quite different.

"Here, I don't worry about anything. We were notified there was a hurricane coming," she says, but the community was prepared. "Friends and relatives were texting from all over asking, 'Aren't you glad you're not in your house anymore?" Diane's answer was a resounding "Yes!"

State-of-the-art construction

"We often say that Siena Lakes is the safest place in Naples," says Associate Executive Director Varun Kakar. "The way the community is structured and built, we're not going anywhere!"

When the campus was built, it was designed to withstand a category five hurricane, with winds up to 157 miles per hour and greater. 

"In fact, Siena Lakes can withstand up to 185 mile-per-hour winds, so it's past category five. The windows are all impact-resistant and are safe for extreme wind conditions and debris," says Kakar. "There was a lot of proactive planning to make sure that the community as well as its residents and staff would stay safe at all times."

As the buildings endure even the roughest hurricane winds, indoor walkways ensure access no matter what the weather and the underbuilding garage keeps residents' cars protected from debris and rain.

Most importantly, Siena Lakes residents are secure, as the community is fully fenced and has security 24/7, says Kakar. "The community development team did a good job in making sure that everything is secure, while withstanding high winds and water intrusion."

Emergency plan

For the times when Siena Lakes lies in the path of a storm, the detailed hurricane preparedness plan keeps residents and staff protected, ensuring that life continues as usual. 

In addition to the use of backup generators for power outages, the community takes a shelter-in-place approach. The Resident Emergency Assistance Team, which is comprised of resident volunteers, helps communicate information from Kakar and other community administrators to the residents in their buildings.

Assistance Team members visit residents in their homes, providing checklists to fill out, ensuring they have enough water, medications, and anything else they may need, to weather the storm.

During a hurricane, meals are offered in a central location on campus, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the event.

Welcoming staff families

In fact, Siena Lakes offers such a safe and comfortable home throughout a hurricane emergency that staff members, their families, and pets, are invited to stay on campus until they can return safely home. 

The community also uses the Alert Media Program to share information by text on everything from meal service to safety instructions. These text alerts can also be forwarded to family and friends.

"We also ask residents, and their families, to visit our Siena Lakes Facebook page in case we were to lose cellular coverage," says Kakar. "Our communications team posts important updates throughout all weather emergencies."

'Feeling safe all the time'

Throughout Hurricane Martin, Diane was so relaxed in her Siena Lakes home that she spent her time comfortably reading a book.

"It was strange not to hear all those noises that I used to hear during hurricanes--the wind blowing and thunder. It's just amazing," she says. "Not having that stress any longer makes a big difference. I'm feeling safe here all the time." 

To learn more about Siena Lakes, request your free brochure.