Event Outside the Addabbo Center story By Brian Abate

On April 19, New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas announced the start of construction on a $4 million project to implement resiliency measures at the Addabbo Center (120 Richards St.) The announcement took place in front of the center, as it was a beautiful day.

As part of the project, a 100-kW elevated backup power generator will be installed, allowing the center to continue functioning during intense storms. The resiliency measures include elevating the building’s electrical system, elevator machine equipment, and boiler room to an area outside of the floodplain.

This is especially important as there are not many healthcare facilities in the area so Red Hook residents rely heavily on the Addabbo Center.

“Community health facilities are some of our most vital pieces of infrastructure, especially when major storms hit,” said Visnauskas. “This $4 million investment to enhance preparedness and strengthen resiliency at Red Hook’s Addabbo Family Health Center will ensure that the community has a safe place to gather and can receive essential services both throughout the year as well as during extreme weather.”

After Superstorm Sandy hit Red Hook in 2012, the Addabbo Center was forced to close as there was significant damage to the facility with as much as six feet of water flooding the building. This funding should help prevent a similar situation from happening if another hurricane hits Red Hook.

“After Hurricane Sandy, it took over a week for the Addabbo Center to reopen due to significant damage,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés in a statement. “As Red Hook’s only federally qualified health center for many years, it is long overdue that we finally break ground and move forward with these critical resiliency upgrades.”

Everyone has talked about making Red Hook more resilient in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, and it is nice to see that this project is attempting to do just that. What happened in 2012 should never happen again, even if another superstorm or hurricane hits the neighborhood.

“Even though years have passed since Superstorm Sandy, everyone around here remembers it and the disastrous effect it had on our community,” said Dr. Miriam Vega, chief executive officer of the Addabbo Center. I know many of you may have been displaced and I was displaced for eight days. The city was resilient, we were resilient, and Addabbo came back one week later because we knew our community needed us.

“We provide health care to everyone who needs it regardless of their ability to pay and we work to provide whole-person care. As a result, our infrastructure needs TLC, and we’re very grateful to be getting that TLC today as we strive to make sure our patients get dental, primary care, mental health care, and much more.”

This funding should help ensure that patients continue to get that care at the Addabbo Center regardless of what storms might come our way in the future.

“As a community that faces disproportionate health risks as a result of pollution, natural disasters, and other environmental factors, I am ecstatic to see our state investing in Red Hook’s health and safety,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes in a statement. “The infrastructure improvements will greatly serve our community and go further to protect those most at risk, including public housing residents. So, I hope everyone will join me in celebrating the exciting start to this project.”