OCEAN BREEZE — Staten Island University Hospital is set to receive $28 million to protect itself from future storms — including raising the building's power systems, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.
Both the north and south campuses of the hospital had flood waters come within inches of their buildings. De Blasio said a future storm could flood both or leave it inoperable.
"There are few things as important as protecting our critical infrastructure ahead of future extreme weather or emergencies," de Blasio said in a statement.
"That's why we're making this major resiliency investment in SIUH — because we need to ensure that it will be there for Staten Islanders when they need it."
As well as elevating building power and mechanical systems, the money will be used for the north campus to install sanitary holding tanks, implement backflow prevention and make wind resiliency and roofing improvements, de Blasio said.
The hospital needed $40 million to complete the full scope of their resiliency upgrades. In May, FEMA awarded $12 million to SIUH from its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to fund part of the plans.
The city decided to use part of its Community Development Block Grant Program — Disaster Relief funds to cover the rest of the costs, de Blasio said.
"Simply put, Mayor de Blasio listened," Borough President James Oddo said in a statement. "He heard us, which means he heard Staten Island. And for that, I am extremely grateful."
