The Storm

Hurricane SandyHurricane Sandy Floods New York City Floods New York City

NYC was perfectly positioned to absorb the NYC was perfectly positioned to absorb the worst of Hurricane Sandy's storm surge -worst of Hurricane Sandy's storm surge -

record 13 feet. record 13 feet. Lower Manhattan received the brunt of the Lower Manhattan received the brunt of the

flooding. flooding.

A man uses his mobile A man uses his mobile phone to photograph a phone to photograph a closed and flooded closed and flooded subway station in lower subway station in lower Manhattan, in New York, Manhattan, in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Due to superstorm Due to superstorm Sandy, New York City Sandy, New York City awakened Tuesday to a awakened Tuesday to a flooded subway system, flooded subway system, shuttered financial shuttered financial markets and hundreds of markets and hundreds of thousands of people thousands of people without power a day after without power a day after a wall of seawater and a wall of seawater and high winds slammed into high winds slammed into the city, destroying the city, destroying buildings and flooding buildings and flooding tunnels. tunnels.

AP Photo/Richard Drew) AP Photo/Richard Drew) Source: AP2012Source: AP2012

Hoboken Path Train StationHoboken Path Train Station

Vehicles are submerged on 14th Street near the Consolidated Vehicles are submerged on 14th Street near the Consolidated Edison power plant, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy Edison power plant, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain. winds and soaking rain. 

(AP Photo/ John Minchillo) (AP Photo/ John Minchillo) Source: AP2012Source: AP2012

FDNY inflatable boats travel along 14th street towards the East FDNY inflatable boats travel along 14th street towards the East River on a rescue in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Monday, Oct. River on a rescue in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain. threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain.

(AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano) (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano) Source: AP2012Source: AP2012

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Rising water, caused by Hurricane NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Rising water, caused by Hurricane Sandy, rushes into a subterranian parking garage in the Financial Sandy, rushes into a subterranian parking garage in the Financial District of NYC. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced District of NYC. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the closure of all New York City bus, subway and commuterthe closure of all New York City bus, subway and commuter rail rail service as of Sunday evening service as of Sunday evening

(Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Source: 2012 Getty ImagesSource: 2012 Getty Images

Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, the New York skyline remains dark. In an Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, the New York skyline remains dark. In an attempt to lessen damage from saltwater to the subway system and attempt to lessen damage from saltwater to the subway system and the electrical network beneath the city's financial district, New York the electrical network beneath the city's financial district, New York City's main utility cut power to about 6,500 customers in lower City's main utility cut power to about 6,500 customers in lower Manhattan. But a far wider swath of the city was hit with blackouts Manhattan. But a far wider swath of the city was hit with blackouts caused by flooding and transformer explosions.caused by flooding and transformer explosions. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Source: AP2012Source: AP2012

Bellevue Storm DamageBellevue Storm Damage

Bellevue Storm DamageBellevue Storm Damage

13 ft of water flooded the basement where 13 ft of water flooded the basement where the power grid and fuel pumps were the power grid and fuel pumps were locatedlocated

All 36 elevator shafts flooded, shutting All 36 elevator shafts flooded, shutting down the systemdown the system

Land line and cell phones were downLand line and cell phones were down No running waterNo running water Minimal lighting via emergency Minimal lighting via emergency

generatorsgenerators

Bucket brigade at Bellevue Hospital

SurvivalSurvival

Medical care continued Medical care continued Emergency generators were Emergency generators were

on the 13on the 13thth floor floor Fuel needed to be brought to Fuel needed to be brought to

these generators, so the these generators, so the bucket brigade was born bucket brigade was born

With the assistance from the With the assistance from the National Guard, the bucket National Guard, the bucket brigade continued for 4 days brigade continued for 4 days to keep the generators to keep the generators functioning, which allowed a functioning, which allowed a safe evacuation safe evacuation

Fuel DeliveryFuel Delivery

New York City’s Bellevue Hospital forced New York City’s Bellevue Hospital forced to Evacuate Patients After Sandyto Evacuate Patients After Sandy

National Guard National Guard Soldiers and Soldiers and Ambulances assistAmbulances assist

Bellevue Hospital Bellevue Hospital during Evacuation, during Evacuation, October 31, 2012October 31, 2012..

The EvacuationThe Evacuation

Evacuation ContinuesEvacuation Continues

Pumping heat into the south lobby

Recovery PhaseRecovery Phase

RemediationRemediation

Damage assessment began after pumping Damage assessment began after pumping out > 6 million gallons of water from the out > 6 million gallons of water from the basementbasement

Contractors evaluated the entire ventilation Contractors evaluated the entire ventilation system, air and water quality along with system, air and water quality along with cleaning, disinfection and mold remediationcleaning, disinfection and mold remediation

Continuous environmental testing for air Continuous environmental testing for air quality, mold spores, coliforms and quality, mold spores, coliforms and LegionellaLegionella were being conducted were being conducted

Disposal of enormous amounts of Disposal of enormous amounts of pharmaceuticals, supplies and equipmentpharmaceuticals, supplies and equipment

Rebuilding electrical panels on the first floor

Electrical panels moved up to the first floor

Clinics Opening (Nov. 19, 2012)Clinics Opening (Nov. 19, 2012)

Open for Business (2/7/13)Open for Business (2/7/13)

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Power sources must be on higher floorsPower sources must be on higher floors Elevators should be kept at higher floorsElevators should be kept at higher floors Flashlights are needed in every areaFlashlights are needed in every area Walkie-talkies must be distributed to key Walkie-talkies must be distributed to key

personnelpersonnel Utilize a vendor-based inventory contract to Utilize a vendor-based inventory contract to

keep supplies to a minimum, but maintain keep supplies to a minimum, but maintain adequate inventoryadequate inventory

Communication must be continuousCommunication must be continuous

Press Release: February 7, 2013Press Release: February 7, 2013

Bellevue Hospital Center Re-Opens With Full Bellevue Hospital Center Re-Opens With Full

AmbulanceAmbulance and Level 1 Trauma Servicesand Level 1 Trauma Services