NEW YORK (AP) — New York City is getting at least $1.6 billion in federal money to help public hospitals install floodwalls, flood proof elevators and otherwise become more storm-resilient.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sen. Charles Schumer announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency award Thursday. It includes money to reimburse Bellevue, Coney Island, Metropolitan and Coler Specialty hospitals for measures to recover from Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

De Blasio says the funding is “desperately needed.” Schumer calls it “a massive shot of adrenaline” for the hospitals’ recovery.

Coney Island Hospital will get a new, storm-resilient building to house its emergency room, among other things.

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