Emergency exercises tests NYC schools’ readiness for another Superstorm Sandy
Generators, water pumps and flood barriers were just some of the tools that were tested.
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P.S. 188 in Coney Island was one of many New York City Public Schools that performed a flood barrier emergency response exercises on Saturday.
Generators, water pumps and flood barriers were just some of the tools that were tested.
New York City schools suffered damages that cost tens of millions of dollars to fix after the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.
The School Construction Authority purchased the flood barrier shields and installed de-watering utility pumps at 40 of the city's most severely impacted school buildings.
"This was one of the areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy, so we know that we have to be here. There was a lot of damage, a lot of schools impacted, some 15 feet of water in some basement spaces," said Kevin Moran, chief of school operations for New York City Public Schools.
These drills were performed at 14 different Brooklyn public schools and the timing could not be better. The 2024 hurricane season is now underway and expected to be above normal in the Northeast.
"There's an ever-present urgency now as we see shifting weather events and the impact to our local communities. We have to be ready," Moran added.
Officials say not only will the new technology save the city millions of dollars, but it will also shorten the recovery time to get schools back open after a storm.
