Emerson supports U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to transform arena into COVID-19 hospital

NEW YORK — Health department officials in New York are bracing for local hospitals being unable to accommodate the thousands of people who may need medical attention in the coming weeks due to the increasing number of cases of COVID-19.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a $350 million Mission Assignment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction of four alternate care facilities in New York, including the Westchester County Center arena in White Plains, N.Y.

COURTESY OF AEF SALES — Nelson CLT Series self-regulating, cut-to-length cables were used to free-protect the water lines running into and out of the four hospital tents constructed in New York by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Haugland Energy Group LLC, the general contractor on the project, reached out to AEF Sales, a local sales representative of Emerson brand Nelson heat tracing cables and accessories to support the project.

The Army Corps of Engineers allotted 21 days to complete the Westchester County Center project, which was to be transformed into an alternate care facility providing acute care. In addition, there was the construction of four MASH-style tents in the arena’s parking lot built of aluminum instead of standard canvas. The four tents now house half of the total 110 hospital beds at the Westchester site.

In need of pipe protection, the project’s general contractor Haugland Energy Group LLC reached out to AEF Sales, a local sales representative of Emerson brand Nelson heat tracing cables and accessories, indicates a release, adding AEF Sales has worked with Haugland on various power plant projects in the past.

Recognizing the importance of getting the Westchester County Center up and running, Emerson’s sales representatives removed all barriers to meet the order quantity expeditiously and, as a result, the water lines were fully protected from the elements by the time service was turned on.

“Behind the scenes, Emerson’s team worked alongside us to rapidly get the right heat trace cables into the hands of Haugland Energy Group contractors who were on the frontlines of this project,” said Pietro Fasolino, president of AEF Sales, in a statement. “Emerson cut lead times from weeks to days, or even hours, ensuring the quick mobilization of the alternate care facility in an emergency situation.”

“Emerson is proud to have worked closely with AEF and Haugland Energy Group as they raced to complete the Westchester project and mitigate the impact of COVID-19,” said Kelly Pierce, sales channel manager for Nelson at Emerson, in the statement. “Emerson’s regional sourcing and manufacturing strategies helped us to identify the fastest path to move Nelson cables from the initial order to onsite delivery.”