![(PHOTO: Rye Y CEO Sabrina Murphy shows off the new "boiler house" on the roof of the Y, now far away from the flood waters of the Blind Brook.)](https://myrye.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sabrina-boilerroom-768x1024.jpg)
Twenty-seven months after the remnants of Hurricane Ida swept across Westchester County, devastating the Rye YMCA’s first floor pools, child care classrooms, boilers and mechanical equipment, Y leaders and guests cut the ribbon on a new rooftop mechanical room. The 900-square-foot “boiler house” will shelter the Y’s two boilers and most of the organization’s mechanical and electrical panels from future flooding.
The project is being funding by FEMA (90%) (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and DHSES (10%) (NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services). According to Rye Y officials, final project cost for moving the boilers and mechanicals to the roof will be approximately $1.8 million. FEMA has “obligated” $1,425,006.42, of which $1,282,505.78 is the federal share and $142,500.64 is the state share. The Y has been informed that FEMA will pay for the actual final cost of the project beyond the currently committed $1,425,006.42.
The ceremony – or “boiler house warming” – was held on December 5th on the Y’s flat roof. Speakers included Rye Y CEO Sabrina Murphy; board president John Weber; Irvin Peters, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Task Force Lead; and Christopher Hanse, Hudson Valley Regional Director for Senator Charles Schumer.
![(PHOTO: A "boiler house" in the sky - officials from the Rye YMCA, FEMA, local government and contracting companies gather for the ribbon cutting of the Rye YMCA's new rooftop boiler room.)](https://myrye.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rye-YMCA-Ribbon-Cutting-boiler-room-photo-hi-res-1024x683.jpg)
In her remarks, Murphy thanked the many people who transformed the project from concept to reality, including the Y’s board of directors; staff; architects from Crozier-Gedney; general contractor Robbie Howard; subcontractors; Luke Powell from Senator Schumer’s office; FEMA team members Irvin Peters and Daniela Heppard; and James Bukowski and Sarah Taegder from the DHSES.
![Hurricane Ida hits Rye September 2, 2021 - damage inside the Rye YMCA](https://myrye.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hurricane-Ida-hits-Rye-September-2-2021-damage-inside-the-Rye-YMCA-1024x683.jpg)
“We’re so grateful for all of the support we’ve received,” Murphy said. “This project is a significant step toward a more sustainable future for the Rye Y. We’re making our building resilient for the working families who rely on us to be open for child care; for the seniors who stay active and connected by taking water aquatics classes; for the cancer survivors who participate in our LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program, and for so many more. Our community depends on the Y and we need to weather every storm for it.”