Irene May Require NYC Evacuations

[marmar]

(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.” ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-25/irene-may-require-evacuations-of-some-new-york-city-areas-bloomberg-says.html

[Harmony Blue]

1. If you live in low lying coastal areas in the path of this storm

I wouldn't wait till tomorrow to evacuate. IMVHO

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I would be leaving myself

But those Burroughs, from memory, are low income iirc. Well queens no, but that will be a problem

[gratuitous]

2. Don't fall for it, Tea Baggers!

This is nothing more than gubmint interference in your private affairs! Stand your ground, fly your Gadsden flags, and proudly assert your right as an American to be a blithering nincompoop. Don't let Big Brother push you around.

[TBF]

3. If you have pets and maybe have family inland to stay with -

I'd go now. I would not want to deal with Bloomberg's evacuations ...

[TexasProgresive]

5. Do New Yorkers drive?

I know that some do but a real evacuation of NY will be more harrowing then for the Crescent City (New Orleans). There are limited routs out and where people need to go is to the west.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Or to the north. I'm in the North Bronx, the only boro....

... that is physically attached to the North American continent.

I'm going to load up the Corolla on Friday nite and point it north.

Sat am we'll be ready to rock'n'roll.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. The only thing that worries me more than Irene is.....

.... having Mayor Snowstorm ( aka Mayor Record-Breaking School Test Scores; aka Mayor "Overturning Term Limits Would Be 'Disgusting'") in charge of the evacuation.

I'll have to keep tuning into Bloomberg News to find out what's *really* going on.