THE ELDERLY CAN BE THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN A NATURAL
DISASTER.
THE MOST VISIBLE TRAGEDIES OF
IRMA WAS THE DEATHS OF
RESIDENCE AT A SOUTH FLORIDA
NURSING HOME. TODAY, A U.S.
SENATE COMMITTEE TOOK A PROBLEM
UNADDRESSED HOW TO BETTER
PROTECT SENIOR CITIZENS IN CASE
OF A NATURAL DISASTER LIKE
IRMA.
CHANNEL 9'S JUSTIN GRAY IS
LIVE IN WASHINGTON DC
TONIGHT. Reporter: THERE IS
ALREADY ONE NEW REQUIREMENT ON
THE WAY FROM WASHINGTON.
A NEW RULE THAT NURSING HOMES
HAVE THE ABILITY EVEN IN A
DISASTER, EVEN WHEN THE POWER
GOES OUT TO HEAT AND COOL THEIR
FACILITIES.
FROM THESE SENIORS WAITING FOR
RESCUE DURING HURRICANE HARVEY,
TO THE NINE FLORIDA NURSING
HOME RESIDENTS WHO DIED FROM
HEAT DURING IRMA, THE
VULNERABILITY FROM NATURAL
DISASTER HAS BEEN FRONT AND
CENTER.
THE SENATE AGING COMMITTEE IS
LOOKING INTO HOW TO BETTER
PROTECT SENIORS WHEN DISASTER
STRIKES.
I CAN'T LECTURE THE
GOVERNMENT BUT I AM ALLOWED TO
LECTURE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Reporter: ON CASEY IN
FLORIDA SENATORS RUBIO AND
NELSON HAVE A NEW BILL CREATING
A FEDERAL PANEL PREPARES FOR
AND COORDINATES CARE FOR
NATURAL DISASTERS.
Reporter: IT IS NOT JUST
NURSING HOMES.
I MET 92-YEAR-OLD EVA JOHNSON
WHO REFUSED TO LEAVE HER
JACKSONVILLE HOME AFTER SEVERAL
SWELTERING DAYS WITHOUT POWER.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
MOVING OUT? NO.
GOD BLESSED ME WITH THIS HOME.
Reporter: HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES WILL REQUIRE THAT ALL
NURSING HOMES THAT RECEIVE
MEDICARE OR MEDICAID HAVE AN
ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCE
CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING SAFE
TEMPERATURES.
PEOPLE CANNOT BE IN OVERHEATED
BUILDINGS FOR ANY LENGTH OF
TIME.
Reporter: PREVIOUS FEDERAL
REGULATIONS REQUIRED EMERGENCY
POWER FOR THINGS LIKE LIGHT BUT
DID NOT FOCUS ON COOLING OR
HEATING BUILDINGS.
THE SENATE AGING COMMITTEE
CONSIDERED IT SUCH A TIME
SENSITIVE ISSUE THAT THEY HELD
THIS HEARING EVEN THOUGH THE
SENATE WAS AT OF SECTION --
SESSION ALREADY.
THEY DID INDICATE THAT BOTH
FLORIDA SENATORS WANTED TO BE A
PART OF IT BUT THEY WERE
