Manhattan VA Hospital Is Closed Indefinitely

Veterans Raise Concerns Since Manhattan VA Hospital Is Closed Indefinitely
By: Zack Fink
11/15/12
While some hospitals damaged in Sandy have timetables for reopening, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan does not, which is raising flags among advocates for veterans, who say they need more information about where to receive care. NY1's Zack Fink filed the following report.

As the East River crested at the height of Hurricane Sandy, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan sustained severe flooding in its basement. The electrical systems were destroyed by salt water and by Thursday there was still no running water.

As a result, the facility is closed indefinitely.

"Unfortunately I don't have a timeline right now. We've just gotten an elevator back-up," said Martina Parauda of VA NY Harbor Healthcare System. "We have some power on with an emergency generator that was brought in from our Providence VA facility, but we still have a long way to go to be operational for veterans."

The hospital was built in 1954, and served 20,000 veterans before being shuttered. Veterans are currently receiving care at other hospitals, including one in the Bronx and another in Brooklyn. The latter clinic is difficult to reach via public transportation.
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