U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) today asked the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to broaden its ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 14 seniors who were at a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida during Hurricane Irma, to consider additional concerns raised this week over the state’s treatment of people with disabilities during and after the storm.
Florida emergency management officials came under fire this week over the state’s alleged discrimination against people with disabilities during and after the disaster.
In a letter sent to state officials Wednesday, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties outlined several concerns recently brought to the agency’s attention, including:
- The use of unqualified sign language interpreters
- Lack of discharge planning for people leaving emergency shelters
- The evacuation of persons with disabilities
- Planning for evacuation of elderly/individuals with disabilities living in high rise buildings
DHS went on to “remind” the state of Florida that it has a legal obligation not to discriminate on the basis of disability.
“[We] would like to remind the State of Florida of its obligations to carry out its federally assisted activities in a manner that is consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 … [which] prohibits discrimination based on disability,” the agency wrote.
The agency put the state on notice that it plans to continue to monitor the situation, saying, “[DHS] will likely to make arrangements in coming months to get feedback from residents regarding challenges faced by those with access and functional needs during the recent hurricane.”
The text of Nelson’s letter to the committee is below, and a pdf copy is available here.
A copy of DHS’s letter to the state is available here.
November 3, 2017
The Honorable Orrin Hatch
Chairman
Senate Committee on Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Ron Wyden
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden:
I’m writing in regards to the committee’s ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 14 seniors who were at a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida during Hurricane Irma.
Enclosed you will find a letter that the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties sent to the Florida Department of Emergency Management Wednesday outlining several concerns brought to the agency’s attention regarding the state’s treatment of people with disabilities during and after the storm.
The concerns outlined in this letter are extremely disturbing, and I ask that they be included in the committee’s ongoing investigation.
Sincerely,
