As some of you may know, Hurricane Irma was powerful and destructive. But it was also deadly and now officials are looking for answers into how nursing home residents died, across the street from a hospital no less.
The situation is devastating for loved ones but the tragedy did prompt police to check 42 nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the city of Hollywood. Hours later, “79 residents from the Krystal Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in North Miami Beach were evacuated to another facility because of the heat.” 1
Staff at The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills tried for three days to keep residents hydrated and cool after a tree fell down onto the transformer that powered the air conditioning system. But by Wednesday, eight had died.
The rehab center says it was prepared; they had a power generator and staff had stocked up on seven days’ worth of food and water. But sadly, they didn’t think about the intense heat nor plan on losing the transformer that rendered their air conditioning useless. So, they made due by keeping residents in hallways near the cooling units. But it wasn’t enough.
The first 911 call was Wednesday around 3 a.m. for a patient in cardiac arrest:
“About an hour later, crews grew concerned when they received a second call for a resident with breathing problems. When the third call came in, the fire department sent over more crews…
But by the time the facility was completely evacuated on Wednesday morning, one resident had been taken to a funeral home, three others were found dead on the second floor of the facility and several others were in distress, officials said.
Four more died in hospitals after paramedics and emergency medical staff helped evacuate the sweltering facility.
The causes of death are yet to be determined.”1
