Before Hurricane Irene hits, New York to shut down entire transportation system, plan evacuations

BY Reuven Blau, Jennifer H. Cunningham and Bill Hutchinson
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/25/2011-08-25_before_hurricane_irene_hits_new_york_to_shut_down_entire_transportation_system_p.html#ixzz1W5otH4c4The city is planning to shut down the entire transportation system on Saturday in anticipation of Hurricane Irene's arrival, officials revealed Thursday.

A mandatory evacuation of all nursing homes in flood-prone areas of the city was also ordered Thursday.

The monster storm is expected hit New York as a Category 1 storm sometime Sunday, barreling in with winds of 90 miles-per-hour and torrential rains.

Mayor Bloomberg said Thursday that it was "very conceivable" that he will order a mandatory evacuation of all low-lying areas of the city by Saturday.

"The storm is predicted to be very dangerous," the mayor said.

LIVE STORM-TRACKER: Catch the latest news on Hurricane Irene

As the storm finished ravaging the Bahamas Thursday and set its wicked eye straight for the Carolina coastline, city and state officials were busy preparing for the worst:

* Gov. Cuomo declared a state of emergency to free up resources and take advantage of federal assistance.

* The MTA took the unprecedented move of setting its hurricane plan in motion, which calls for a complete shutdown of subways, trains and buses when sustained winds reach at least 39 mph.

* The mayor ordered the mandatory evacuation of nursing homes, care facilities for the elderly and hospitals in low-lying areas by 8 p.m. Friday.

* The MTA warned bridges could be closed for safety reasons due to high winds.

* More than 300 street fairs and other city permitted events scheduled for this weekend were cancelled.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/25/2011-08-25_before_hurricane_irene_hits_new_york_to_shut_down_entire_transportation_system_p.html#ixzz1W5ofhHFx


Credit: New York Daily News