Dear Friends,
According to the latest weather reports, Hurricane Irene remains on course to hit New York City this evening with winds between 55 and 75 mph.
There is a mandatory evacuation order for all coastal areas of New York City (Zone A and the Rockaways) by 5 pm today. If you are in an evacuation zone, it is critical that you relocate immediately.
All MTA buses and subways began shutting down at Noon today (details at www.mta.info ). Pets are allowed at evacuation sites and on MTA vehicles during the evacuation but please be sure to keep animals in crates and bring documentation and food.
Please note that bridges may be shut down in the case of strong winds, further limiting mobility. The Staten Island Ferry is also scheduled to shut down at 10pm tonight.
If you are in a safe area and have made necessary preparations ( click here for details ) and you want to volunteer to help out the City's efforts at evacuation shelters or call centers, please let us know right away. Please use the link below and the NYC Public Advocate's office will follow up with you by phone.