The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) announced it assisted in evacuating residents from the Newman San Luis skilled nursing facility on Jan. 9, in response to potential flooding from Orestimba Creek.

The regional transit system communicated with the Stanislaus Emergency Operations Command (SEOC) a few days before requesting their potential assistance in evacuating residents affected by storms and flooding in the area, according to the authority's news release.

The request came in around 1:00 p.m. to assist in evacuating residents from the nursing facility to various locations.

Hector Medina, the StanRTA customer service manager, began gathering information about the evacuees to establish safe travel plans. Medina with the assistance of paratransit operations manager, Deaundra Pettis-Jimerson, reached out to drivers Kevin Burch, Lorianne Murrilo, and Road Supervisor Andrea Stagnaro to assist. Two vehicles were dispatched at 2:16 p.m. to the nursing facility once the number of passengers was determined. 

“Our dispatchers, supervisors, and drivers are members of this community, and I would say their dedication to residents in the area is heroic every day, but in emergencies such as these, they truly go above and beyond,” said Adam Barth, StanRTA CEO. “The calm and professional service they provided was simply outstanding.” 

Multiple vehicles from various organizations were called to the facility, including Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Fire, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Reports indicate over 40 people were evacuated. Drivers Burch and Stagnaro transported four residents in wheelchairs to selected locations where they could continue receiving care.