Irma's Deadly Aftermath: Eight Die in Sweltering Florida Nursing Home

Gary Lane
09-13-2017

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President Trump will visit the Naples area of Florida on Thursday to show his concern for the victims of Hurricane Irma. Naples took the harshest blow as the powerful storm passed over the mainland.

Floridians are facing new dangers brought by the heat, lack of electricity, and massive amount of debris.

Those terrible conditions have now led to a deadly tragedy. Eight people in a Hollywood, Fla. nursing home died from what authorities believe are heat-related causes.

The air-conditioning was out, and more than 100 people had been evacuated from the home. But three patients were found dead and the others died at a hospital or on the way. Hollywood Police are conducting a criminal investigation.

Many of the tens of thousands of Floridians returning to their homes have found their houses in a shambles, without running water, electricity or air conditioning for relief from Florida's heat and humidity.

Five peple died from breathing carbon monoxide fumes from generators and one man died when his chainsaw kicked back and severed his carotid artery.

Still, there is hope as volunteers from around the country are coming to help, including Operation Blessing, which is providing people with life's basic necessities, like food, water, and hope.

Long lines of cars jammed Highway 1 as Florida Keys residents returned to their homes for the first time since Irma battered southern Florida with destructive Category 4 winds. One quarter of the homes in the Keys no longer exist.

In northeastern Florida, people were trying to recover from floodwaters.

Jacksonville residents say the St. John's River overflowed its banks at the River Walk area, about six feet above normal, racing up to the surrounding buildings and throughout the streets of downtown.

For most Floridians, electricity is the immediate concern as they return to their homes. Two-thirds of the state lost electricity, and millions are still without power.

Utility workers from 30 states are volunteering their time so Floridians won't have to sit in the dark or suffer through 90 degree heat without air conditioning.

A group of workers from New York jumped at the chance to return a favor to Florida.

"We're also excited about kind of repaying back some of the utilities that helped us along with Superstorm Sandy in 2012," one worker told CBN News.

We caught up with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in Jacksonville as he toured the state assessing the damage. What stood out as he surveyed the destruction? The amazing size and scope of Hurricane Irma.

"Usually when someone has a hurricane hit a state you wonder, what city? Did it hit Miami, did it hit Tampa, did it hit Jacksonville? And the answer is yes. It hit them all and more," the Republican senator told us.

Rubio expressed deep appreciation for first responders.

"Well, obviously I was praying that it would turn off and go somewhere else. I also prayed for the people responding…the people that were out there in the water pulling people out risking their own lives who were working 24 hour shifts while their family were behind also weathering the storm. Those are the people I would hope we would treasure and remember for what they did for us," Rubio said.
 
Many local residents, hard hit by the hurricane, were grateful for the help they received from CBN's Operation Blessing.

Tuesday, the OB team spent the day in Naples providing people with food, water, and hygiene supplies.

"We're at Meals of Hope and as this truck is being unloaded, there's a resident standing here waiting for food, water and personal hygiene items," Operation Blessing's Jody Gettys described.

Odalys Indart, a Naples resident, told OB that many people are still stuck inside their homes without food or water.

"We got an alert on Facebook through Collier County that Operation Blessing was giving away food at 3 p.m. and I was like, wow," Indart said. "Well, it's actually given us food, water, it's giving us a sign of hope that at least someone is out there looking out for us. We're not in this alone."

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About The Author

Gary Lane
Gary
Lane

Mr. Lane currently serves as International News Director and Senior International Correspondent for CBN News. He has traveled to more than 120 countries—many of them restricted nations or areas hostile to Christianity and other minority faiths where he has interviewed persecution victims and has provided video reports and analysis for CBN News. Also, he has provided written stories and has served as a consultant for the Voice of the Martyrs. Gary joined The Christian Broadcasting Network in 1984 as the first full-time Middle East Correspondent for CBN News. Based in Jerusalem, Gary produced
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