New York City gets $108 million for storm-damaged public housing

NEW YORK -- New York City is getting $108 million to repair and protect five buildings at a Brooklyn public housing development hit hard by Superstorm Sandy.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sen. Charles Schumer announced the funding on Friday.

The 2012 storm surge dumped water and sand into the basements and first floors of the Coney Island Houses. It crippled the electrical and mechanical systems and left residents without power and heat for 22 days.

The money will go toward construction of an elevated boiler building, the installation of a flood barrier system and stand-by generators.

De Blasio says the grant process will serve as a model to obtain funding for at least 15 other public housing projects hit by Sandy.