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$117 Million Coming In Federal Aid For Sandy-Related Damage To Bellevue Hospital

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said the New York City public hospital system will receive more than $117 million in federal aid for repairs to Bellevue Hospital Center for Superstorm-Sandy-related damages.

Schumer and Gillibrand said Thursday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program will reimburse the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation for repairs made after the storm. The aid will also fund rebuilding plans that are still in the works.

Superstorm Sandy forced Bellevue to evacuate about 700 patients after almost all of the hospital's backup generators failed and 17 million gallons of water flooded the basement during the storm on Oct. 29, 2012.

Most of The 180,000-square-foot basement filled up with water in less than an hour the night Sandy walloped the Tri-State Area.

Following the storm, power transformers were moved from the basement to the first floor, and flood barriers were installed outside to block truck ramps where water poured into the building during Sandy.

The aid will fund the replacement of an emergency generator and reimburse the hospital system for electrical and security repairs.

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