Florida Storms Cause Deaths, Bring About New Laws In Wake

The 2017 hurricane season ended with 17 storms that were named and 10 of those becoming hurricanes. Six of those reached Category 3 strength.

Irma became a tropical Storm on Aug. 30, 2017, and reached Category 5 strength winds on Sept. 5, 2017. It reached the Florida Keys on Sept. 10 as a Category 4 storm with 130-mph winds and over a ten-foot tidal surge. This storm is on the record for being the most active storm to hit Florida in September.
 
Power had not been completely resorted to 1.5 weeks after the hurricane made landfall
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Robert Gould, vice president and chief communications officer of Florida Power and Light said "We understand what it means to be hot and without air conditioning. We will be restoring power day and night."

New Regulations for Assisted Living Facilities Requires an Emergency Power Generator 

For those senior citizens living in retirement, assisted living or nursing homes discomfort moved to distress. This was not just about comfort but ensuring safety as well. Some issues faced by these seniors were:

• Air Conditioning - Temperature reaching the mid-90s with no indoor air circulation.
• Refrigeration - All perishable medicine and foods are either not usable or reaching limits.
• Magnetic Door Locks - Doors will not unlock or lock as designed.
• Fire Suppression and Medical Emergency Equipment - No power and batteries either running low or totally discharged.
• Assisted Bed Lifts - No backup power to run.

Lack of power after Hurricane Irma resulted in the deaths of eight nursing home patients. On Sept. 16, 2017, Governor Rick Scott announced new rules requiring assisted living facilities and nursing homes to install emergency generators. These generators must supply enough power to HVAC systems to maintain comfortable interior temperatures for a period of 96 hours after a utility power failure.
 
Secretaries of two state agencies issued rules from the Governor's office to change the requirements for Florida's hospitals.The Governor said, "During emergencies, health-care facilities must be fully prepared to ensure the health, safety and well-being of those in their care, and there is absolutely no excuse not to protect life."

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in fines up to $1,000 per day and possible revocation of license. One nursing home that could not provide cooling because of a failed transformer, was evacuated, and is now under criminal investigation. They were also blocked from admitting new patients.
 
Details on the new regulation requiring facilities to have a generator are still being ironed out.
Florida Heath Care Association site also has specifics details on the law and specifications surrounding it can be found on the FHCA site.
 
Generators Being Shipped to Florida as Facilities Prepare

While the emergency generator requirement has not passed into law yet and may have revisions, many facilities recognize the need for redundant power and are moving forward with purchasing on-site backup power systems.
 
Generator Source recently sold and shipped numerous generators to facilities in Florida. We can help facility managers and operators in selecting the appropriate generator and also consult on any additional equipment you may need like automatic transfer switches.

We just recently delivered 10 low hour used generators to various nursing homes in Florida, here's a few examples:

• 500 kW Cummins
• 800 kW Baldor
• 300 kW Generac
• Two 500 kW Baldor
• 400 kW Baldor.

With over 40 years of experience, we stand ready to supply all of your emergency power requirements.
Our skilled technicians can help you select the generator to fit your needs, no matter how big or small. Contact us at (855) 513-7124.
 
Story Summary

What are the new generator requirements for Florida nursing homes?
Florida now requires nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have backup power sources capable of maintaining an ambient temperature of 81°F or lower for at least 96 hours in the event of a power outage. Facilities must have enough fuel onsite to power the generators for 72-96 hours.

When did these requirements go into effect?
The emergency rules were enacted in 2017 after Hurricane Irma and were signed into law in March 2018. Facilities were required to comply by June 1, 2018, though many received extensions until January 2019.

What types of facilities are covered by the law?
The requirements apply to nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Florida.

How much generator capacity is required?
The generator must be able to power air conditioning to keep resident areas at 81°F or cooler for at least 96 hours. At least 30 square feet of cooling space must be provided per resident.

How much fuel must be stored onsite?
Facilities with 17 or more beds must store 72 hours of fuel onsite. Smaller facilities with 16 or fewer beds must store 48 hours of fuel. During declared emergencies, 96 hours of fuel is required.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Facilities can face fines of up to $1,000 per day and potential license suspension or revocation for failing to comply with the generator requirements.

Can facilities share generator resources?
Yes, facilities on the same campus under common ownership may share backup power sources and fuel storage if sufficient to meet the requirements.

administrator | 1/3/2018 2:16:52 PM | 0 comments