Community Corner

Southampton and Peconic Bay Hospitals Weather Hurricane

Both hospital's lost power during the storm, but emergency generators kicked on.

and report that Hurricane Irene had no impact on their services either during or after the storm.

According to Marsha Kenny, of Southampton Hospital, the hospital’s administration and staff prepared for the worst prior to the storm.

“We reviewed the hospital-wide emergency plans that are in place and followed reports of Irene’s path.”

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The hospital did lose power around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday at the height of the storm; however, Kenny said emergency generators kicked on immediately.

Power was restored by 11 that night, Kenny said.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Southampton Hospital’s highest priority is always patient care,” said Robert Chaloner, president and CEO of the hospital. “We are very appreciative to all the staff and physicians who traveled to get here in the storm and stayed over night.”

At Peconic Bay Medical Center, though the hospital briefly lost power when one woman was on the way to an emergency C-section during the storm, Sharon Tietze, vice president of medical staff management, said the backup generators located on site immediately kicked in.

Patient care wasn't compromised for a single moment," she said. The rest of the night continued without a hitch, she said, as the hospital took in patients, boarded extra staff for the night, and loaned nurses to the Red Cross shelter at Riverhead High School.

The hospital suffered little wind damage in the storm, with some "major leaks from the roof, but nothing that can't be repaired." 

Tietze credited the Hospital Incident Command System, or HICS, for helping to keep everything under control during the storm. HICS is a emergency plan used by hospitals nationwide in case of emergency.

RELATED:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here