Air conditioning failure at nursing home causes evacuation of 183 in South Jersey
Nearly 200 residents of the Voorhees Care and Rehabilitation Center were taken to a high school seek relief from the heat. The system was later repaired and residents returned to the facility.
Excessive heat and the apparent failure of an air conditioning system Sunday caused the evacuation of a nursing home in Voorhees.
Nearly 200 residents of the Voorhees Care and Rehabilitation Center on Laurel Oak Road were taken to Eastern High School to seek relief from the heat. Emergency personnel from around South Jersey arrived at the acute facility to shepherd residents to safety.
One person was taken to a hospital, but Voorhees Fire Capt. Jim Arpino said it was unclear whether heat was to blame. Others were taken to other facilities capable of handling their care.
By 8 p.m., the system had been repaired and residents were returning to the facility.
Officials said they were initially alerted to the hot conditions inside the building by a call from a resident’s family member as temperatures outside approached 100 degrees.