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Sandy-damaged hospital repairs complete, Cuomo says – Metro US

Sandy-damaged hospital repairs complete, Cuomo says

Sandy-damaged hospital repairs complete, Cuomo says
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $21 million in storm resiliency repairs and upgrades have been completed at Coney Island Hospital.

The southern Brooklyn hospital was evacuated during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, when flooding damaged the hospital’s equipment. Two other area hospitals had to be evacuated during the storm.

The multi-million dollar upgrades are expected to protect hospital equipment from any future flooding, save $1.5 million a year in energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7,000 tons.

The hospital had started energy improvements earlier in 2012 before the storm hit, such as installing a new boiler plant, and adding new windows and air conditioners and the hurricane delayed the repairs.

“Superstorm Sandy showed us the importance of proactively strengthening our infrastructure – especially our healthcare facilities – so it is more resilient to extreme weather,” Cuomo said. “These upgrades to Coney Island Hospital will enable the facility to better serve its community regardless of what mother nature throws at them. I am proud of the state and city’s ongoing work to build back better.”

The project is funded by the New York Power Authority, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, and National Grid, which gave $300,000 to the project. Other upgrades to Coney Island Hospital have come from FEMA, and the federal agency is providing $900 million to the hospital, according to the governor’s office.

“The prognosis for Coney Island Hospital’s future has never looked better … Quality healthcare is critical for our communities, and this funding will ensure that Coney Island Hospital can continue to deliver quality services to southern Brooklyn,” Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams said.

The hospital project is part of Build Smart NY, which is working toward a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency for government buildings by 2020.