NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Hosted Timely Community Preparedness Expo as Nor’easter Approached New York City
Hundreds gathered for life-saving training and resources ahead of weekend storm and coastal flooding
Sep 28, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens hosted the Get Ready, Stay Ready: Emergency Preparedness Expo on Friday, September 25, welcoming hundreds of participants including hospital employees, visitors, patients, and local students. The event’s timing was particularly critical as a powerful nor’easter threatened to impact the region, with forecasts calling for wind gusts up to 50 mph, heavy rain, and coastal flooding across the New York City metro area through Monday.
The Expo served as a dynamic hub of activity, providing a proactive response to the very types of weather threats currently facing the borough. A diverse group of community partners—including the NYC Medical Reserve Corps, the Salvation Army, United Way of New York City, and the Red Cross—offered hands-on demonstrations and resources. Attendees participated in hands-only CPR education provided by DocGo and “Stop-the-Bleed” training, while AARP New York and the ASPCA provided specialized preparedness tips for seniors and pet owners. A highlight of the event was a disaster preparedness presentation by the Citizen’s Preparedness Corps, where registered attendees received free “Go Bags” to ensure they are equipped for the immediate impacts of the incoming storm.
“At NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, our commitment to the community extends beyond the walls of our exam rooms,” said Neil J. Moore, MBA, MPA, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “By hosting this Expo, we are ensuring that our neighbors are equipped with the vital resources and knowledge needed to stay safe and navigate unpredictable situations with confidence.”
“Maintaining operations and continuity of care during a disaster is paramount,” said Marzya Sdrewski, Chief Operating Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “This event demonstrates our proactive approach to hospital and community resilience, ensuring we can recover efficiently and continue serving our patients when they need us most.”
“Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility,” said Dr. Denise Chuang, Chief of the Emergency Department at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Empowering our community with skills like hands-only CPR and ‘Stop the Bleed’ training directly improves outcomes and helps save lives before a patient even reaches the Emergency Department.”
“The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens,” said Maxwell Muneeb, Training and Education Coordinator at Ambulnz by DocGo. “You want to prepare during a time of calm so that you are ready and resilient when a situation actually arises.”
“We are here today to provide free, hands-on CPR awareness training to the public,” said Elvis Velez, EMS Instructor, New York City Fire Department. “Our focus is on teaching high-quality chest compressions and the proper use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). We want to empower every member of our community with the knowledge and skills necessary to save a life during a cardiac arrest emergency.”
“Our agency is dedicated to helping New Yorkers learn how to prepare for a wide range of emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, and severe winter weather,” said Dustin Ridenour, MPA, Special Projects Administrator for New York City Emergency Management. “It is critical for residents to have their essential paperwork in order and ensure they have the supplies necessary to be ready for the next disaster.”
“We had a great time engaging with the staff and community to discuss customer assistance programs that help with energy bills and efficiency for homes here in Southeast Queens,” said Stephen Coulter, Program Manager for Con Edison’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program. “We want to thank NYC Health + Hospitals for hosting this important event.”
As one of the most diverse and densely populated counties in the United States, Queens faces unique and significant hazards. The hospital’s location in the heart of Jamaica puts it in close proximity to two major international hubs, John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports, making specialized emergency management a top priority. The lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic remain a driving force for these efforts; during the height of the crisis, the two public hospitals in Queens bore a disproportionate share of total admissions and mortality as the virus moved rapidly through high-density, multi-generational immigrant neighborhoods.
To address these challenges, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is currently developing a comprehensive Master Plan and Strategic Plan focused on long-term readiness. Central to this vision is the pursuit of crucial infrastructure modernizations, specifically for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Emergency Department. These improvements are designed to reinforce the hospital’s overall approach to delivering safe, high-quality care on a daily basis and ensuring robust emergency preparedness in the event of a future crisis.
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Media Contact: Cleon Edwards, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, (646) 772-5725
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
A member of NYC Health + Hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is a major health care provider in the borough of Queens. Its foremost mission is to provide quality, comprehensive care to all members of the public regardless of their ability to pay. In 2025, Queens Hospital marked its 90th anniversary of serving the communities of central and southeastern Queens, having first opened its doors as Queens General Hospital in 1935. Encompassing 360,000 square feet, it comprises 253 licensed beds, spacious ambulatory care suites featuring both primary and specialty services, and cutting-edge equipment. It also houses four Centers of Excellence: Cancer Care, Diabetes Management, Women’s Health, and Behavioral Health. The hospital has recently added a fully expanded Emergency Room, a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence accredited by the American College of Radiology, and a Total Hip and Knee Replacement Center, with plans underway to build the health system’s first Dialysis Center to train patients to perform their own at-home dialysis. To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/queens.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.