Paramedics and other medical workers began to evacuate patients from New York University Langone Medical Center due to a power outage caused by Tropical Storm Sandy, followed by a failure of backup generators at the hospital, New York City officials said Monday night.
About 200 patients, roughly 45 of whom are critical care patients, were moved out of NYU via private ambulance with the assistance of the New York Fire Department, city officials said. ABC News' Chris Murphey reported a long line of ambulances outside of NYU Langone waiting to transport patients to other hospitals in the city.
The hospital had a total of 800 patients two days ago, some patients were discharged before tonight's evacuation, which was described by emergency management officials as "a total evacuation."
According to ABC's Josh Haskell, 24 ambulances lined the street, waiting to be waved in to pick up patients from NYU Langone Medical Center. "Every 4 minutes a patient comes out and an empty ambulance pulls up. The lobby of the Medical Center is full of hospital personnel, family members, and patients," Haskell reports.
The patients were moved to a number of area hospitals and according to officials at NYU, the receiving hospitals would notify family members.
30/10/2012 : By RICHARD ESPOSITO and DAN CHILDS / ABC NEWS.
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