Bellevue Hospital Center & Hurricane Sandy 10/29/12

The Storm

Hurricane Sandy Floods New York City  NYC was perfectly positioned to absorb the worst of Hurricane Sandy's storm surge - record 13 feet.  Lower Manhattan received the brunt of the flooding.

 A man uses his mobile phone to photograph a closed and flooded subway station in lower Manhattan, in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 30, Due to superstorm Sandy, New York City awakened Tuesday to a flooded subway system, shuttered financial markets and hundreds of thousands of people without power a day after a wall of seawater and high winds slammed into the city, destroying buildings and flooding tunnels. AP Photo/Richard Drew) Source: AP2012

Hoboken Path Train Station

 Vehicles are submerged on 14th Street near the Consolidated Edison power plant, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain.  Vehicles are submerged on 14th Street near the Consolidated Edison power plant, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain. (AP Photo/ John Minchillo) Source: AP2012 (AP Photo/ John Minchillo) Source: AP2012

 FDNY inflatable boats travel along 14th street towards the East River on a rescue in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano) Source: AP2012 (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano) Source: AP2012

 NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Rising water, caused by Hurricane Sandy, rushes into a subterranian parking garage in the Financial District of NYC. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the closure of all New York City bus, subway and commuter rail service as of Sunday evening (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Source: 2012 Getty Images (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Source: 2012 Getty Images

 Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, the New York skyline remains dark. In an attempt to lessen damage from saltwater to the subway system and the electrical network beneath the city's financial district, New York 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 caused by flooding and transformer explosions. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Source: AP2012 (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Source: AP2012

Bellevue Storm Damage

 13 ft of water flooded the basement where the power grid and fuel pumps were located  All 36 elevator shafts flooded, shutting down the system  Land line and cell phones were down  No running water  Minimal lighting via emergency generators

Bucket brigade at Bellevue Hospital Survival  Medical care continued  Emergency generators were on the 13 th floor  Fuel needed to be brought to these generators, so the bucket brigade was born  With the assistance from the National Guard, the bucket brigade continued for 4 days to keep the generators functioning, which allowed a safe evacuation

Fuel Delivery

New York City’s Bellevue Hospital forced to Evacuate Patients After Sandy  National Guard Soldiers and Ambulances assist Bellevue Hospital during Evacuation, October 31, Bellevue Hospital during Evacuation, October 31, 2012.

The Evacuation

Evacuation Continues

Pumping heat into the south lobby Recovery Phase

Remediation  Damage assessment began after pumping out > 6 million gallons of water from the basement  Contractors evaluated the entire ventilation system, air and water quality along with cleaning, disinfection and mold remediation  Continuous environmental testing for air quality, mold spores, coliforms and Legionella were being conducted  Disposal of enormous amounts of pharmaceuticals, supplies and equipment

Rebuilding electrical panels on the first floor

Electrical panels moved up to the first floor

Clinics Opening (Nov. 19, 2012)

Open for Business (2/7/13)

Lessons Learned  Power sources must be on higher floors  Elevators should be kept at higher floors  Flashlights are needed in every area  Walkie-talkies must be distributed to key personnel  Utilize a vendor-based inventory contract to keep supplies to a minimum, but maintain adequate inventory  Communication must be continuous

Press Release: February 7, 2013 Bellevue Hospital Center Re-Opens With Full Ambulance and Level 1 Trauma Services