Unpermitted cooling tower among violations found at Hollywood nursing home

Facility has 30 days to obtain proper permits, fix issues

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Hollywood code inspectors delivered two code violations to the Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills on Monday.

Officials found cooling tower and a temporary generator that were installed without inspections and permits at the facility that lost power during Irma.

Eleven residents died in the days after the storm -- some of whom had body temperatures exceeding 109 degrees.

The medical examiner has not confirmed the cause of death for those individuals. The chiller that lost electricity is mentioned in one code violation as having a "new cooling tower installed on the existing chiller system without permits."

It also cites "multiple electrical hazards exist in the mechanical room." Though the hot box of the building did have generator power, city officials noted that a  "temporary standby generator was installed and tied into the buildings electrical system without permits."

The unpermitted work was not mentioned in communications between the nursing home administration, state agencies and governor, who with police are now investigating the deaths of those 11 people.

The facility has 30 days to obtain the proper permits and address the violations or face a fine of up to $1,000 a day.

Click here to view code violations against Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills: Part 1

Click here to view code violations against Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills: Part 2


About the Author:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."