Hollywood Nursing Home Tragedy: State Requires Backup Generators

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Six months after the deaths of 14 former residents of a sweltering Hollywood, Florida nursing home that lost power during Hurricane Irma, the state of Florida has ordered every nursing home and assisted living facility in the state to be equipped with emergency generators. Gov. Rick Scott signed a measure into law on Monday making permanent emergency rules put in place after the tragedy. Florida is one of the first states in the nation to require emergency generators at facilities that care for the elderly.

“The tragedy at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills made it clear more needed to be done to ensure the protection of vulnerable Floridians during emergencies like Hurricane Irma," Scott said on Monday. "As we near the 2018 hurricane season, families can now know the facilities responsible for caring for their loved ones will have the resources needed to be fully prepared ahead of any potential storms.”

Hurricane season in the Sunshine state runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

The chief medical examiner of Broward County ruled 12 of the 14 deaths to be homicides. The deaths of the two other former residents of the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hill were found not to be related to the horrific conditions at the now shuttered facility.

Gov. Scott directed the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to issue the emergency rules immediately following the tragedy, which was related to the Sept. 10 hurricane that ripped through the state.

Justin Senior, who heads up Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration said, that officials would push facilities to make sure they are ready for the start of hurricane season.

"Florida faces an annual risk from mother nature, and these rules will help keep seniors safe during a possible devastating weather event or periods with prolonged power outage," said Senior.

Hollywood Police Chief Tomas Sanchez addresses reporters during the investigation into the deaths of 14 former patients at a nursing home that lost power during Hurricane Irma. Photo courtesy Hollywood Police Department.