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Hurricane Milton caused mayhem in Florida’s long term care system, ripping through the center of Florida along the I-4 corridor. The large storm put many nursing home residents in the Tampa Bay and Orlando area at risk.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a legal duty under Florida law to safely evacuate residents when a hurricane approaches. Natural disaster readiness is codified in the administrative code that governs these facilities. Yet, unfortunately, many facilities failed to prepare and were caught off guard by Hurricane Milton.
As a result of inappropriate planning and a hurried evacuation, vulnerable residents may have suffered preventable falls, oxygen deprivation, medication errors, and wrongful death.
If your loved one was wrongfully injured in a nursing home or assisted living facility during Hurricane Milton, contact the Florida nursing home abuse attorneys at Senior Justice Law Firm for a free consultation: 888-375-9998.
Our skilled elder abuse attorneys can obtain the relevant medical records, assess the facility’s preparedness for Hurricane Milton, and determine if your loved one’s injury or death was preventable.
What is a Nursing Home or ALF supposed to do during Hurricane Milton?
Years ago, Hurricane Irma knocked out the power at Hollywood Hills nursing home. Instead of safely evacuating, the South Florida nursing home kept residents on the premises, without air conditioning, resulting in numerous patient deaths. After the tragedy of Hollywood Hills, Florida’s legislature passed strict laws that required facilities to be ready for the next storm.
Long term care facilities in Florida are, at a bare minimum, required to provide emergency evacuation transportation, adequate sheltering, emergency equipment, adequate supervision, medication administration, post disaster food and water and post disaster transportation.
Further, if a resident is sick, the facility staff must promptly transport him/her to a hospital.
Although staffing levels may drop during Hurricane Milton, nursing homes and ALF’s are still required to prevent preventable injuries. These include the following ‘red flag’ elder neglect injuries that correlate with abuse, neglect or negligence.
Free Hurricane Milton Nursing Home Case Evaluation
Florida law protects residents of nursing homes and assisted living centers, even in the midst of a hurricane.
Hurricanes are, unfortunately, a guaranteed part of life here in Florida. Hurricane preparedness is a legal requirement for all healthcare facilities. Hurricane Milton is not a valid excuse for the serious injury or preventable death of a patient.
If your loved one was injured or wrongfully died inside a healthcare facility during Hurricane Milton, contact Senior Justice Law Firm to learn more about your rights under Florida law.
Speak with our specialized elder abuse attorneys now by calling us at (888) 375-9998, or live chatting with our office.
Our Orlando nursing home abuse attorneys and Tampa nursing home abuse attorneys are here to help your family get justice, and answers, following an injury or death during Hurricane Milton.
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