Gothamist: Roosevelt Island Is an Island, Entire of Itself

glennardo

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:22:02 -0500

#7 Flushing - Then during September they should set up real ER at the UN's expense.

#7 Flushing

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:22:07 -0500

Glennardo, there is a hospital on Roosevelt Island, Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility. There's the Smallpox Hospital too, but it's in ruins, I guess you wouldn't count that.

Julian

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:01:31 -0500

Bridge can be raised and lowered in 10 minutes or less. And faster in an emergency.

glennardo

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:53:55 -0500

I attended a Community Board meeting last week where they were discussing that the bridge needed major repairs and a full repainting soon. An interesting fact that I learned was that the bridge takes about 10-20 minutes to raise and lower. The main reason they have a drawbridge is that when the UN is in general session, they do not allow boats to pass on the west side of Roosevelt Island. So, you really don't want to have a heart attack on RI during September. The strange part is that any town of that size outside NYC would have a hospital, fire department, etc located on the island...

Julian

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:33:50 -0500

Many years ago, there was a freight elevator on the Queensboro Bridge that went to Roosevelt Island (or Welfare Island at that time). It was dismantled when the bridge between the island and Queens was opened - that is the bridge that must have been blocked by the crane. The elevator on the QB Bridge should have been kept for emergencies. The Fire Dept has a search and rescue squad on the island, they probably could have responded to any real emergency...and Jen is right, they probably could have brought over a boat if really needed.

Rocknrope

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:16:59 -0500

Wulfgar!

Jen

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:10:53 -0500

Thank you, sir. And I was wondering if the FDNY would transport the EMS via a FDNY boat, but guess not.

Glenn

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 11:46:48 -0500

Nice John Donne reference, Jen.