A state-hired engineer is blaming the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills staff for making the situation worse once the facility lost power after Hurricane Irma.
In testimony released late Thursday, an engineer hired by the state to evaluate the 12 deaths at The Rehabilitation Center in September testified the home required 125 tons of cooling capacity, but the nine portable coolers only generated about 15 tons.
Since they weren't properly ventilated, the coolers actually spread the heat, Engineer William Scott Crawford said. Much of the heat flowed toward the second floor, where temperatures spiked.
Twelve patients died.
The testimony came during ongoing litigation over the loss of the nursing home's license to operate.