During a news conference last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he wants hospital construction in flood-prone areas to meet new standards for extreme weather.
According to an article in Modern Healthcare, Bloomberg said the changes are necessary following the costly results of superstorm Sandy, which shut down five acute-care hospitals in New York.
The article cites the city’s report and recommendations following Sandy, saying ten hospitals are vulnerable to flood in the event of another major storm under newly revised maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Bloomberg says the city must prepare, and proposed rules are expected to reach the City Council this year, according to the article.