Florida Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities Face Ongoing Evacuation Challenges After Hurricane Helene
The ongoing struggle for residents of Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities continues as they are being forced to move for the second time in two weeks due to the looming threat of Hurricane Helene. Some residents never even had the chance to return to their homes after the devastation caused by the hurricane.
The I-Team has uncovered alarming data showing that dozens of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Tampa Bay area are located in evacuation zone A, meaning that elderly residents must be relocated whenever a hurricane or tropical storm poses a threat. Thousands more residents in senior residential care facilities are situated in evacuation zones B, C, D, and E, adding to the complexity and urgency of evacuation efforts.
Tragic incidents in the past, such as the deaths at the Rehabilitation Center in Hollywood Hills during a power outage, have highlighted the vulnerabilities of seniors in these facilities during natural disasters. A study from the University of South Florida and Brown University even estimates that nearly 500 seniors indirectly died as a result of Hurricane Irma in the aftermath of the storm.
Emergency management expert Adam Montella emphasizes the lack of standardized emergency evacuation plans for nursing homes and assisted living facilities, leading to potential failures in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents during evacuations. Attorney Jim Wilkes, who has represented numerous clients in lawsuits against these facilities, points out the risks and challenges faced by residents when they are repeatedly moved for transfers.
The I-Team’s analysis of data from the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Emergency Management has identified 77 facilities in evacuation zone A in several counties, totaling 5,882 beds. Wilkes advocates for the relocation of facilities out of evacuation zone A to prevent the need for repeated evacuations and to minimize the risks and consequences faced by vulnerable residents.
As the state grapples with the ongoing challenges of protecting elderly residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities during natural disasters, the call for more stringent regulations and proactive measures to ensure their safety and well-being grows louder. The potential consequences of inadequate emergency preparedness are stark, with lives and quality of life hanging in the balance.