Mayor de Blasio Announces Commitment of $28 Million for Staten Island University Hospital Resiliency

September 18, 2014

City commitment—the result of a partnership among City Hall, Borough President Oddo, Staten Island elected officials, and SIUH—ensures that hospital's resiliency program can now move forward

NEW YORK—Tonight, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the City is committing $28 million to fund major resiliency measures at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), ensuring that the comprehensive resiliency program for the hospital can now move forward.

SIUH is home to the largest emergency room on Staten Island and accounts for over one-third of the borough's in-patient beds. Both SIUH campuses (North and South) are located in areas extremely vulnerable to flooding. Flooding came within inches of the hospital during Hurricane Sandy; another storm under a different set of circumstances could flood SIUH or leave it inoperable, leaving Staten Island residents without the borough's largest level-one trauma center, and leaving the East and South Shores exposed in an emergency situation.

The City's comprehensive resiliency plan specifically cited the need for a major resiliency investment in SIUH, given the hospital's location and vulnerabilities. In collaboration with Mayor de Blasio's Office of Recovery and Resiliency, Borough President Oddo, and local elected officials, SIUH has identified a $40 million resiliency program that will:

• Elevate critical building power and mechanical systems ($23.2 million for the North Campus; $12.1 million for the South Campus)
• Install sanitary holding tanks and backflow prevention ($1 million for the North Campus)
• Make major wind resiliency and roofing improvements ($3.6 million for the North Campus)

In May 2014, SIUH was awarded $12 million by the state under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for part of this scope. The City determined that it would be able to use a portion of its federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funds to cover this $28 million investment in SIUH's resiliency program.

The City's funding will allow SIUH to complete its entire scope of work at both hospital campuses.

"There are few things as important as protecting our critical infrastructure ahead of future extreme weather or emergencies. 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," said Mayor de Blasio. "I'm grateful to Borough President Oddo for his partnership, and all of our colleagues in government who worked collaboratively to make this funding a reality."

"Simply put, Mayor de Blasio listened. He heard us, which means he heard Staten Island. And for that, I am extremely grateful," said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. "Once again, when we act as a team as elected officials, good things can happen. In this instance, the joy of this moment is only outpaced by the relief that SIUH is getting the help it needs to ensure it will be there for Staten Islanders even during the most critical of times. A particular thank you to Councilman Ignizio for his doggedness."

"By directing these resiliency funds to Staten Island University Hospital, Mayor de Blasio is providing a lifeline to tens of thousands of Staten Islanders, ensuring that one of the borough's two critical health care systems will remain operational during a disaster. I want to thank the Mayor for listening to my Staten Island colleagues and I, who have been tenacious in our efforts to ensure we are better prepared for the next Hurricane Sandy," said Council Minority Leader Vincent Ignizio.

"These critical funds will help Staten Island Island University Hospital be able to withstand the next Sandy. All Staten Islanders know how vitally important it is to ensure that SIUH remains open in times of crisis to provide top notch quality of care. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for listening to our needs, and my colleagues in government for their determination to make this happen," said Council Member Steven Matteo.

"One of the many lessons we learned in the days after Hurricane Sandy was that our hospital infrastructure was vulnerable to extreme weather events. I commend Mayor de Blasio for securing this $25 million so that Staten Island is better prepared for any future weather event we may experience. With only two hospitals on this island, it is essential that we strengthen our infrastructure to protect SIUH -- and the health and well being of Staten Islanders -- in the years to come." said Council Member Deborah Rose

"Thanks to Mayor de Blasio's leadership, we will be able to ensure better protection for Staten Island University Hospital. Staten Island's largest emergency room, SIUH accounts for over one-third of the borough's in-patient beds, has two campuses, both located in areas that are vulnerable to flooding.  With these resiliency upgrades and improvements, we will significantly reduce vulnerabilities to those on the East and South Shore experiencing future emergency situations," said State Senator Diane J. Savino.

"Staten Island university hospital, which was directly impacted by superstorm sandy, is a critically important component of Staten Islands health care delivery system. I commend and thank mayor Deblasio for hearing our pleas and delivering this much needed sandy relief funding, which will help fortify and protect the hospital against future coastal storms," said Senator Andrew Lanza.

"With only two hospitals on an island of half a million residents, investments in resiliency measures are critical. During Hurricane Sandy, all of our bridges were shut down, so traveling to an off-Island hospital was not an option. We can't afford to have either of our hospitals out of service during a crisis of that magnitude. I thank Mayor de Blasio and our City Council delegation for their diligence in making this vital funding a reality," said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis.

"This is a great day for SIUH and all Staten Islanders. Today is a victory for our community with this much needed investment in our health care. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for his commitment to the resiliency of Staten Island's critical infrastructure," said Assemblyman Michael Cusick.

"The Staten Island Community is grateful for the leadership and dedication that Mayor de Blasio has shown to us by investing in Staten Island University Hospital's critical infrastructure. This 28 million dollar investment will certainly ensure the continued vitality of our institution and protect all Staten Islanders and enhance their uninterrupted delivery of Healthcare services if and when the next natural disaster may strike," said Executive Director of Staten Island University Hospital, North Shore LIJ Donna Proske.