Rick Scott signs bills requiring generators in nursing homes, assisted living facilities

The facilities must provide at least 30 square feet of cool space for each resident - at a temperature of no more than 81 degrees - and keep several days worth of fuel on hand when the power goes out.

SCOTT KEELER | Times
Gov. Rick Scott describes what can be done further in Florida to avoid more shootings like the one in Parkland at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. — SCOTT KEELER | Times Gov. Rick Scott describes what can be done further in Florida to avoid more shootings like the one in Parkland at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Lawrence MowerTimes staff

Published Mar. 26, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation today requiring nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have backup generators, following the deaths of a dozen people at a Broward County nursing home that lost power during Hurricane Irma last year.

The bills require the facilities to keep backup generators capable of running air conditioners when the power goes out. They must provide at least 30 square feet of cool space for each resident – at a temperature of no more than 81 degrees – and keep several days worth of fuel on hand.

The bills made permanent emergency orders Scott put in place after the deaths at a Hollywood nursing home, where a dozen elders overheated and died.

"As we near the 2018 hurricane season, families can now know the facilities responsible for caring for their loved ones will have the resources needed to be fully prepared ahead of any potential storms," Scott said in a statement Monday.

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