Flood-damaged NYC hospital limps back to life

NEW YORK (AP) — Ambulances are being welcomed again at a New York City hospital severely damaged nearly four months ago by Superstorm Sandy.

The 371-bed Coney Island Hospital has struggled to recover from the storm, which filled its lower levels with water and destroyed its emergency department.

The city's Health and Hospitals Corporation announced Friday the medical center is once again receiving ambulances for most types of care. It still isn't delivering babies or seeing trauma patients.

The hospital had previously opened its emergency room on a limited basis for walk-in patients.

Coney Island Hospital is nearly three-quarters of a mile from the neighborhood's famous beach, but the distance offered little protection from Sandy's wrath.

The hospital has been operating a fleet of mobile medical vans in the flood zone since the storm.