I remember the outrage that one nursing home did not evacuate and that elderly people drown when the floods came. I also remember at the time the feeling that the owners were inhuman idiots who should be charged with murder. After reading an article in Esquire this month, I am inclined to disagree. The defense in a nutshell.

 

Gov. Blanco turned over legal responsibility for evacuation to transportation sect'y Bradberry even though there was no plan in place.

 

The state turned down patient evacuation assistance from the Federal Government, like the nursing home owners did to the state.

 

Only 21 of 57 nursing homes evacuated

 

35 of the 200 patients that died, were at this one nursing home.

 

St.Rita's nursing home was unscathed by the storm, it was the failure f the levy that caused the deaths

 

The levy failing resulted in 1,500 deaths, not just these 35.

 

It also turns out the story that a survivor called for five days for help and none arrived, was a lie.

 

By accounts this was one of the best run nursing homes in the area. I have never had my opinion changed so quickly by "the rest of the story"

 

http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2...ved_Ones_1.html

That article is amazing.

That article is amazing.

 

It is rare that an article could totally change my opinion. It does seem like they are being unfairly singled out.