After deadly evacuation, 7 La. nursing homes will remain shuttered for months

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Seven shuttered nursing homes across Louisiana will remain closed for at least 12 months, as the operator fights to have his licenses reinstated.

Investigators from the Louisiana Department of Health blame the operator of those facilities, Bob Dean, for leading a deadly storm evacuation to a warehouse in Independence. Five of those deaths have been linked to Hurricane Ida.

Dean’s attorney, John McLindon, told WAFB Wednesday, November 3, that a research and interview process called pre-trial discovery will take a year to complete at the earliest.

McLindon, who is appealing the state’s decision on Dean’s behalf, argues last-minute changes in the storm’s trajectory created staffing shortages and the so-called “cramped” conditions residents reported.

McLindon also noted the state’s health department approved the evacuation plans before the storm’s arrival.

In addition to losing the licenses to operate, Medicaid provider agreements were cut for Dean’s seven nursing homes which include: