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NYU hospital to investigate power outage that forced mass evacuation NYU hospital to investigate power outage that forced mass evacuation
(10 days later)
New York University hospital has launched an investigation into the double power outage which sparked the evacuation of more than 200 patients, including critically ill newborn babies, at the height of Monday night's superstorm.New York University hospital has launched an investigation into the double power outage which sparked the evacuation of more than 200 patients, including critically ill newborn babies, at the height of Monday night's superstorm.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the hospital said the facility, which is close to the East River and has eight different generators, including one on a higher floor, was still trying to assess what went wrong.On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the hospital said the facility, which is close to the East River and has eight different generators, including one on a higher floor, was still trying to assess what went wrong.
One report, from CBS News, said that the second backup device, on a low floor, was disabled by the water while the primary backup, on the roof, was disabled when a fuel pump on a lower floor was flooded.One report, from CBS News, said that the second backup device, on a low floor, was disabled by the water while the primary backup, on the roof, was disabled when a fuel pump on a lower floor was flooded.
Despite forecasts of a storm surge of up to 11ft, NYU did not anticipate heavy flooding and decided not to evacuate all patients before Sandy hit – in contrast to its handling of tropical storm Irene in August last year.Despite forecasts of a storm surge of up to 11ft, NYU did not anticipate heavy flooding and decided not to evacuate all patients before Sandy hit – in contrast to its handling of tropical storm Irene in August last year.
In fact, the surge hit almost 14ft, flooding much of lower Manhattan and cutting power almost everywhere below 39th Street.In fact, the surge hit almost 14ft, flooding much of lower Manhattan and cutting power almost everywhere below 39th Street.
At a press conference late Monday night, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was unable to hide his anger at the failure, telling reporters that the hospital had assured officials that its back-up systems had been tested.At a press conference late Monday night, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was unable to hide his anger at the failure, telling reporters that the hospital had assured officials that its back-up systems had been tested.
Dr Andrew Brotman, senior vice-president and vice-dean for clinical affairs and strategy at the hospital, told CNN that between 7 and 7.45pm on Monday the hospital's basement, lower floors, and elevator shafts filled with 10 to 12 feet of water and the hospital lost power.Dr Andrew Brotman, senior vice-president and vice-dean for clinical affairs and strategy at the hospital, told CNN that between 7 and 7.45pm on Monday the hospital's basement, lower floors, and elevator shafts filled with 10 to 12 feet of water and the hospital lost power.
"Things went downhill very, very rapidly and very unexpectedly," Brotman said. "The flooding was just unprecedented.""Things went downhill very, very rapidly and very unexpectedly," Brotman said. "The flooding was just unprecedented."
Emergency generators began, he said, but two hours later about 90% of that power went out, and the hospital decided to evacuate patients, beginning with those critically ill.Emergency generators began, he said, but two hours later about 90% of that power went out, and the hospital decided to evacuate patients, beginning with those critically ill.
Television crews at the hospital described a race against time as doctors and nurses carried newborns wrapped in blankets, their breathing tubes still attached, from the intensive care unit down multiple flights of stairs in the dark and into waiting lines of ambulances.Television crews at the hospital described a race against time as doctors and nurses carried newborns wrapped in blankets, their breathing tubes still attached, from the intensive care unit down multiple flights of stairs in the dark and into waiting lines of ambulances.
Problems with telephone service meant that the families of patients were not being called to inform them that their relatives had been moved, the hospital said. It was left to the receiving hospitals, among them Mount Sinai and Sloan Kettering, to contact relatives, according to the hospital.Problems with telephone service meant that the families of patients were not being called to inform them that their relatives had been moved, the hospital said. It was left to the receiving hospitals, among them Mount Sinai and Sloan Kettering, to contact relatives, according to the hospital.
Four of the newborn babies were on respirators which were breathing for them and when the power went out, each baby was carried down nine flights of stairs while a nurse manually squeezed a bag to deliver air to the baby's lungs.Four of the newborn babies were on respirators which were breathing for them and when the power went out, each baby was carried down nine flights of stairs while a nurse manually squeezed a bag to deliver air to the baby's lungs.
The hospital usually has about 800 patients, but hundreds were discharged over the weekend in anticipation of the storm.The hospital usually has about 800 patients, but hundreds were discharged over the weekend in anticipation of the storm.
Jonathan LaPook, a medical correspondent for CBS News, described how babies were swaddled in blankets and carefully carried with intravenous lines, oxygen and monitoring devices attached.Jonathan LaPook, a medical correspondent for CBS News, described how babies were swaddled in blankets and carefully carried with intravenous lines, oxygen and monitoring devices attached.
He said that many patients, too sick to walk down the narrow staircase to the lobby, were also painstakingly carried on plastic sleds by teams of four to five people from as high up as the 17th floor.He said that many patients, too sick to walk down the narrow staircase to the lobby, were also painstakingly carried on plastic sleds by teams of four to five people from as high up as the 17th floor.
A statement from the hospital said: "Due to the severity of hurricane Sandy and the higher than expected storm surge, we are in the process of transferring approximately 215 patients within the medical center to near by facilities. We are having intermittent telephone access issues and for this reason the receiving hospital will notify families of their relatives' arrival."A statement from the hospital said: "Due to the severity of hurricane Sandy and the higher than expected storm surge, we are in the process of transferring approximately 215 patients within the medical center to near by facilities. We are having intermittent telephone access issues and for this reason the receiving hospital will notify families of their relatives' arrival."
All but 50 patients had been evacuated by Tuesday morning, according to CBS news.All but 50 patients had been evacuated by Tuesday morning, according to CBS news.
No details were available from NYU hospital. However, at 10am on Tuesday, the office for emergency management said they thought the evacuation was still ongoing.No details were available from NYU hospital. However, at 10am on Tuesday, the office for emergency management said they thought the evacuation was still ongoing.
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