Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $4.3 Million in Federal Sandy Funding for Bellevue Hospital

May 22, 2014

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced over $4.3 million in federal Sandy funding for the New York Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC)’s Bellevue Hospital.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding will reimburse Bellevue Hospital for the cost of replacing critical equipment, tools and other contents that were kept in the basement, which flooded during the storm. This funding will help restore Bellevue Hospital to its pre-disaster function, capacity and condition.

“Public hospitals like Bellevue provide critical medical services to New Yorkers and it’s important that we help these hospitals get back on their feet following Superstorm Sandy,” said Schumer. “With this funding, Bellevue Hospital will be reimbursed for the replacing equipment and other contents that were in the hospital’s basement and damaged during Sandy, which will help ensure the Hospital returns to its pre-storm condition.”

“Bellevue Hospital, which suffered enormous damage, provided critical emergency help during and after the storm to aid New Yorkers,” said Gillibrand. “This federal reimbursement is an important step forward as we continue to meet New York’s needs to recover and rebuild.”

Dr. Ram Raju, President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), said, “Despite suffering enormous damage, Bellevue and other HHC facilities continue to play a critical role in New York City’s health care system, never turning away a person in need.  But after Sandy it was Bellevue that found itself in need.  It has been a tremendous effort to bring Bellevue back to full service, and this federal funding will go a long way to paying for new equipment and supplies that were acquired after the storm.  We now must turn our attention to preparing the hospital for future storms.  I’d like to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their support.”

During Superstorm Sandy, storm surge flood waters completely inundated the hospital’s 182,000 square foot basement which severely damaged the contents and inventory located there. Many contents, supplies and a large tools inventory were located in the basement level of the facility; items include: medical surgical equipment and supplies, IT equipment (personal computers and printers), maintenance equipment, shop tools (floor buffers, power saws, carpentry supplies, paint, masonry and laundry equipment).

Schumer and Gillibrand today announced a total of $4,365,442 in FEMA Public Assistance funding for NYC HHC’s Bellevue Hospital.