$5.4MM FEMA Grant for Northern Westchester Hospital

Northern Westchester Hospital will receive $5.4 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to upgrade its emergency electrical system.

The hospital will move to a Type 1-Essential Electrical System, bringing its infrastructure to the highest level of emergency preparedness. NWH serves people who live in northern Westchester, Putnam and southern Dutchess counties.

“Northern Westchester Hospital is the principle medical/surgical center for 350,000 people. In the event of a disaster, NWH serves as a refuge and resource for the community and must remain accessible and able to function at maximum capacity to provide services to the community when they are most needed,” Joel Seligman, President and CEO, Northern Westchester Hospital, said in a prepared statement.

The FEMA grant is the largest in the hospital’s history.

NWH lost its primary, Consolidated-Edison-based power for 70 hours during Superstorm Sandy, requiring the activation of its backup generators as a primary power source. Although at no time did NWH lose those emergency fixed standby generators, still hospital officials felt strongly that the Type 1-EES project would be necessary to significantly strengthen the hospital’s emergency power systems.

The FEMA grant was strongly supported by U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

“This critical FEMA funding will help provide much needed resources to facilitate electrical system improvements at Northern Westchester Hospital,” said Gillibrand. “Superstorm Sandy devastated our communities and these funds will help secure the hospital, giving peace of mind to the thousands of New Yorkers that it will be ready for an emergency and can withstand the next storm.”

With it, NWH will completely modernize its electrical system, creating three separate power branches that will help it withstand the impact of future storms as well as two increased-capacity generators. The total project cost is $7,227,511; FEMA will cover 75 percent of the cost, at $5,420,633. The remaining $1.8MM will be reinvested hospital operating revenue. As a not-for-profit organization, any operating revenue gained is reinvested into the hospital to serve the community.

“This is great news for the Northern Westchester Hospital and the thousands of patients who rely on it every day for emergency medical care. With this funding, and with the lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy, this hospital will be able to upgrade their electrical system so it can better withstand future storms,” said Schumer.

“It’s imperative that our region’s hospitals can provide care when it’s needed most,” said Lowey. “As the Ranking Member of the committee that provided the funds, I’m pleased that FEMA is helping Northern Westchester Hospital upgrade its equipment, strengthen its power grid, and withstand future adverse weather events. I will continue working with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand as well as local officials to ensure the Lower Hudson Valley’s resiliency needs are met.”

NWH is a 245-bed facility with a medical staff of almost 700 physicians providing acute specialty/sub-specialty care in nearly every clinical area to adults and children on an outpatient, inpatient and emergency basis.

“These funds will enable NWH to reinforce the electrical infrastructure which is essential to uninterrupted operations and critical to the safety and well-being of the northern Westchester community” Seligman said. “We are grateful to Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Congresswoman Lowey for their efforts which were instrumental in securing these funds.”