Irene May Require NYC Evacuations

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

New York officials preparing for Hurricane Irene this weekend will decide tomorrow whether to call for the evacuation of low-lying areas in downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

The decision would be based on the strength, path and speed of the storm, Bloomberg told reporters today at a news conference in a flood-prone section of Queens. The city would offer “an enormous shelter system” for those without a place to stay on higher ground, he said.

“We don’t have enough information yet to make that call,” Bloomberg said. “The timing is a bit up in the air, as it is with all these things. Sometime on Friday, late in the day. How many depends on how severe we think the storm is going to be.”

Officials must decide whether to suggest or order people to seek higher ground, Bloomberg said. The mayor has the power to issue an executive order forcing evacuation, which Bloomberg said he would use only in the “worst circumstances.”

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-25/irene-may-require-evacuations-of-some-new-york-city-areas-bloomberg-says.html

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Godspeed to all of our east coast families and friends.

[Mz Pip]

1. Scary stuff

My son and his girlfriend live in lower Manhattan. I hope this all peters out before it does anymore damage.

[Harmony Blue]

2. Yeah don't mess around with a hurricane of this

size. It may weaken, or it also make strengthen. Tough call, but you can't take chances with tropical cyclones like this.

[bighughdiehl]

3. Shit

I am scared enough living in the Lehigh Valley, PA.
where the hell would these people go? and how?
Traffic will be fun this weekend.

[aquart]

8. We have many higher ground points.

Map says I don't have to evacuate unless the storm is a 3 or higher.

[razorman]

4. Well, they'd better get started, if they're going to. Time is running out.

[RKP5637]

7. Having worked/spent time in NYC I sure would get out now it I could. I can

hardly imagine the traffic and congestion after an announcement. I don't think New Yorkers would panic, I just think there would be a huge amount of congestion, and where to go. I can just see opportunistic hotels/motels and like going out of sight on their rates.

[Amaril]

24. Absolutely!

I was living in Jacksonville, FL in 1999 when Floyd lumbered his way up the coast. All models had him making landfall in a cone that stretched from Daytona Beach to south Georgia. We made the decision to ride him out (our house was not in a flood zone, and it was far enough from the ocean and Saint John's river that we didn't have to worry about storm surge, but several thousand people decided to get the heck out.

He was a Cat 3 as he moved past Jax -- the eye was about 100 miles offshore -- and while it was kinda scary, we were fine. Damage consisted of a little water intrusion around one window frame that wasn't sealed properly, a few lost shingles, a small scraggly pine tree fell against the side of the house, a lot of small branches down in the yard & we were without power for several hours. We were WAY better off -- AND much safer -- than the thousands of people that were stranded in their vehicles in the massive parking lot formerly known as Interstate 10.

If you're going to go.........GO NOW!

[RKP5637]

5. I think Bloomberg has a good head on his shoulders, and smart move to

be considering options now.

[glinda]

6. Worried about traffic jams. Best go now.

[hedgehog]

9. Understanding that the rating system allows some additional planning,

a Category 1 Hurricane is still a hurricane and not to be taken lightly. Even a tropical storm can have winds up to 73mph. Tie down everything loose now.

[Harmony Blue]

12. It is better to put things indoor

because tying anything down with 73 mph winds is still dangerous.

[Glimmer of Hope]

10. Sooner better than later. Many who live in those areas don't have cars.

[snooper2]

11. I would go out and buy one of these

A couple of these--


And one of these-- and have some fun



What did you do over the weekend? Oh, went fishing for a bit down Park on the upper East side :)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. And I would partially mourn your death.

Unless something else distracted me.

[snooper2]

20. Well you don't go out during the height of the hurricane, after the eye passes

Come one, not that stupid :)

We took homemade boats all the way up from Desoto up Plattin Creek through some woods at times during the great flood of 1993 in Festus MO...

[Kber]

13. I called my mom (who lives in lower Manhatten) about an hour ago

and invited her, her husband and her cats to stay with me in NJ. Not that NJ will be the best place to be, either, but it beats trying to ride out the storm the 6th floor of a 150 year old brick building with floor to ceiling windows. In a storm surge zone.

I sent her the link to your article to encourage her to think about leaving sooner rather than later.

kber

[Harmony Blue]

14. Yes Manhatten

isn't an ideal place to be even if it is downgraded from a hurricane cat 1 to tropical storm.

[hedgehog]

15. NYC evacuation map

[closeupready]

18. whew, I'm in a no-zone (uncolored) area.

JUST. lol

[marasinghe]

21. i was wondering myself - about all the window glass in the City.

i could be wrong; but, to my mind, flying broken glass would be one of the major hazards.
also, the Homeless: hope Bloomberg's got them being taken to shelters by now.

and, hope your Mom takes your advice.

[tpsbmam]

16. Here's a map of lower Manhattan storm surge areas:

Residents in Zone A (orange) face the highest risk of flooding from a hurricane’s storm surge. Zone A includes all low-lying coastal areas and other areas that could experience storm surge in ANY hurricane that makes landfall close to New York City.
Residents in Zone B (Yellow) may experience storm surge flooding from a MODERATE (Category 2 or higher) hurricane.
Residents in Zone C (Green) may experience storm surge flooding from a MAJOR hurricane (Category 3 & 4) making landfall just south of New York City. A major hurricane is unlikely in New York City, but not impossible.


Boy, as a native NYCer, I would NOT want to try to get out of NYC if Bloomberg announces evacuations. Just looking at lower Manhattan, that's A LOT of people, and you've got the rest of Manhattan & the other boroughs to add in. I'd go now -- the traffic will be a nightmare getting out. And, as so many New Yorkers don't have cars, the same will be true of public transportation -- that'll be a nightmare, too. Amtrak, LIRR, Path.....I'd be climbing aboard one of 'em! (Actually, I'd probably be going to a friend's apartment in NYC, one out of a flood zone -- none of those public transports allow dogs and, as I've always had dogs, I'm sure I still would and I would NOT leave my dog behind!)

Good luck to all of you! I'm calling friends/family now to see what they're up to.


(ETA the explanation below the map -- it didn't come through with the image.)

[Harmony Blue]

17. Thank you for the map

and yes I would highly advise anyone to consider making a choice to leave earlier than by late tomorrow.

[Glimmer of Hope]

22. Does this include Wall Street?

[PaddyBlueEyes]

23. Yes

and also the site of the former and under construction World Trade Center.