Gov. Chris Christie delivered a 25-minute speech during Friday’s NJHA Annual Meeting, thanking New Jersey’s healthcare community for its support during Sandy and cautioning providers that their services will be in greater demand as New Jerseyans continue to cope with the storm’s aftermath.

“It’s not over, and it won’t be over for a while,” said the Governor. “People have lost their memories, the things that give continuity and meaning to life. The impact of the trauma of loss on people’s minds and bodies is yet to come.”

The Governor delivered high praise to healthcare leaders and their frontline staff for their preparedness and unselfish service. He noted that two hospitals and 11 long term facilities evacuated during the storm, and that 137 healthcare facilities lost power – all without incident.

“In the end, it was all of you, with all the difficult health issues that presented… that helped the people of New Jersey get through it,” Gov. Christie told NJHA members. “I thank you on behalf of the people of our state.”

The Governor recounted a story he first shared in his State of the State address, the story of Marsha Hedgepeth, an emergency technician at Community Medical Center. Her house was surrounded by six feet of water, but Hedgepeth waded to higher ground and then hitched a ride with a utility crew to get to the hospital and work a 12-hour shift – all on her day off.

“Those are the kind of people that you have in your organizations – people who put their own self interests totally aside,” said the Governor. “That’s why … the hospitals in this room are beloved by the people you serve.”

The Governor also regaled NJHA members with behind-the-scenes stories of working with his Administration and the federal government during Sandy.

“This is not included in the new governor’s manual. They don’t prepare you for this one. If they had told me this…. I would have asked for a recount,” he joked.

The Governor concluded his comments by telling NJHA and its members, “You have an advocate for what you do every day, in the Governor’s office.”