Florida Nursing Home Deaths: 9th Patient Dies Week Later

HOLLYWOOD, FL — Hurricane Irma knocked out power to a sweltering nursing home in Hollywood, Florida nearly a week ago, leaving eight patients dead, and now a ninth person has died.

A 93-year-old man who was a patient at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills died Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott's office announced.

The facility staff dialed 911 on Sept. 12, three days after Irma hit. By the next morning, rescue officials realized the situation at the center had significantly deteriorated. It had operated for days without air conditioning and the rooms became stiflingly hot.

Eight people died and 145 patients were evacuated from the facility, many on stretchers or in wheelchairs.

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation to figure out what went wrong and who, if anyone, was to blame. (For more information on the Hollywood nursing home deaths and other Aventura-area stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Scott previously said he ordered state health officials and the Department of Elder Affairs to issue emergency rules to "keep Floridians safe in healthcare facilities during emergencies." He said he would "aggressively fight" to codify the requirement into law during the 2018 legislative session.

Photo credit: John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP