Mayor Bloomberg: Zone A Ordered Evacuated, Public Schools Closed Monday

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced he signed an executive order mandating the evacuation of Zone A by 7 p.m.

That zone covers low-lying areas that are prone to flooding across the five boroughs.

Zone A includes the following areas of New York City:

• Coney Island, Manhattan Beach and Red Hook and other areas along the East River in Brooklyn;
• All of the Rockaways, as well as Hamilton Beach and

Broad Channel in Queens;

• Almost all of the coastline of Staten Island;
• City Island, a small patch of Throgg’s Neck, and another patch of the South Bronx in the Bronx;
• Battery Park City and stretches of the West Side waterfront and of the Lower East Side and East Village in Manhattan.

Bloomberg warned residents who live in Zone A that all elevators in the zone will be shut down at 7 p.m. and urged residents to get to higher ground quickly, before subway and bus service is shut down.

“If you don’t evacuate, you are not only endangering your life, you are also endangering the lives of the first responders who are going in to rescue you,” he said at a news conference Sunday. “This is a serious and dangerous storm.”

The mayor announced that 72 shelters have been set up in advance of the evacuations.

Earlier Sunday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced mass transit service would be shut down beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday.

“We’ve got to take some preparations today,” Bloomberg told reporters Sunday morning.

In addition, Mayor Bloomberg announced all city schools have been closed for Monday. Alternate side of the street parking has also been suspended for Monday.

The storm surge will be a few feet more than originally projected, Bloomberg said.

It is now anticipated to be six to 11 feet, which could deluge waterfront areas.

The worst of the storm will be Monday night, Bloomberg said. But he warned all residents to take precautions now before things get potentially dangerous.

Residents can call 311 for more information about shelters and evacuation rules.

Sources: CBS LOCAL, NBC NY

{Matzav.com Newscenter}