SPOKANE, Wash. — When fires forced the evacuation of nursing homes and hospitals across the Spokane area on August 1st, hundreds of vulnerable patients — many wheelchair-bound or hospitalized — were displaced from their homes with little notice. Nearly three weeks later, many remain scattered across temporary facilities, highlighting the cascading effects of the disaster on the region’s healthcare system.
The evacuations created an unprecedented strain on receiving facilities across Spokane and Spokane Valley, which absorbed patients at maximum capacity while their original facilities remained closed or inaccessible.
Mosley Ralpo, who was evacuated from Spokane Health and Rehab, described the fear of the moment. “I was scared because I didn’t know where I’m going,” Ralpo said…