At least five people have died in New Orleans apartment complexes for elderly residents since Hurricane Ida hit.
Officials say they are facilities designed for independent living under normal circumstances, but circumstances now are not normal with no power, refrigeration or air conditioning .
The city has shut down ten such apartment buildings, saying they are not fit for elderly people at this time.
The residents have been moved to shelters or hospitals after medical teams triage them.
“I am deeply concerned to have seen the conditions of these private apartment facilities where some of our most elderly and vulnerable community members reside,” said New Orleans Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno. “It saddens me to have witnessed the failure of these facility operators to adequately prepare and protect their residents in one of our greatest times of need. The New Orleans Health Department and our public safety partners are utilizing every available resource to continue responding to this disaster, and will assess and evaluate what legislation might assist with addressing this issue in the future.”
A team of people from multiple agencies helped get all of the at risk resident out.
A news release says, "New Orleans Emergency Medical Services, the New Orleans Fire Department, and the Regional Transit Authority assisted in the evacuation of Peace Lake Towers in New Orleans East, St. John Berchman in Gentilly, St. Martin Manor in the Warehouse District, Delille Inn in New Orleans East, Nazareth Inn 1 & 2 in New Orleans East (one fatality), Flint Goodridge Apartments in Milan (two fatalities), and Christopher Inn in the Marigny (one fatality). That is in addition to the two facilities ordered closed yesterday, including Annunciation Inn in the Seventh Ward (one fatality) and Renaissance Place in Algiers. The five deaths are under investigation by the Coroner’s Office."
The city says the majority of those evacuated were taken to the Convention Center and then bussed to general population shelters in Northern Louisiana, with some transferred to area hospitals.
"Approximately 600 individuals were processed through the City’s transportation assistance program at the Convention Center today, the vast majority of whom were residents of the evacuated apartment complexes. Wellness checks are ongoing at private facilities and the public is encouraged to call 3-1-1 to report dangerous living conditions in senior apartment complexes."
