NEW YORK (AP) — An official at a New York City hospital says, "Everyone here is a hero."
Dr. Bernard Birnbaum, senior vice president at Tisch Hospital, today thanked crews who had worked through the night, evacuating nearly 300 patients floor-by-floor from one of the city's top hospitals after it lost generator power at the height of superstorm Sandy. It's part of the NYU Medical Center.
Rescuers and staff made as many as 10 to 15 trips down darkened stairwells, evacuating the youngest and the sickest first. They finished about 15 hours later.
Among the first to be brought out were 20 babies in neonatal intensive care. Some were on battery-powered respirators.
The patients were taken to other hospitals in the city -- the ones that remained open. Other hospitals canceled outpatient appointments and elective surgeries, and some closed.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and officials at NYU were exchanging blame for last night's crisis. Bloomberg said hospital officials had assured the city that they had working backup power. A hospital spokeswoman says the city told the hospital to evacuate its patients in advance of Hurricane Irene last year -- but issued no such instruction this year.
%@AP Links
APPHOTO NYJM133: Ambulances wait outside New York University Tisch Hospital during an evacuation of the hospital after its backup generator failed when the power was knocked out by a superstorm, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Dozens of ambulances lined up outside NYU Tisch Hospital on Monday night as doctors and nurses began the slow process of taking people out. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (30 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO NYJM133 (10/30/12)>>
APPHOTO NYJM134: Medical workers assist a patient into an ambulance during an evacuation of New York University Tisch Hospital, after its backup generator failed when the power was knocked out by a superstorm, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in New York. Dozens of ambulances lined up outside NYU Tisch Hospital on Monday night as doctors and nurses began the slow process of taking people out. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (30 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO NYJM134 (10/30/12)>>
