Lower Manhattan Prepares for Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene is approaching, and there is a strong chance Lower Manhattan will experience hurricane or tropical storm conditions – including severe flooding – this weekend.
Much of the southern Manhattan coastline, including Battery Park City, lies in Zone A, an area with the highest risk of flooding. City Hall will decide by 8 AM Saturday whether New Yorkers should evacuate from certain high-risk areas.
The Downtown Alliance joins federal, state and city officials in encouraging New Yorkers to be prepared. We will provide updates through our Twitter site – @DowntownNYC – , Facebook page, www.facebook.com/downtownnyc, and website at www.downtownny.com.
If Zone A is evacuated, residents in Battery Park City, Tribeca from Greenwich Street to the Hudson River, the Financial District from Beaver Street to the harbor and from Pearl Street to the East River, will be asked to seek higher ground.
The closest evacuation shelter to our area is at Seward Park High School, at 350 Grand Street.
Downtown Alliance Preparation
The Downtown Alliance is securing our equipment and continues to monitor conditions in our district, south of Chambers Street.
Our free Downtown Connection bus service – www.downtownny.com/downtownconnection will be running all Saturday, unless conditions warrant any changes later in the day.
That service runs from 10 AM to 7:30 PM. However, service will be SUSPENDED on Sunday.
The Downtown Alliance’s three visitor kiosks – at the World Trade Center, World Financial Center and at Peter Minuit Plaza in Battery Park – will be closed this weekend.
Important Hurricane Links
Information about Hurricane Irene’s path and impact is important, so we want to share a few links with you:
New York City Office of Emergency Management – www.nyc.gov/oem. Provides a wealth of information about steps to prepare for a hurricane. You can find out if you live in one of New York City’s hurricane evacuation zones by entering your street address on the agency’s Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder, or http://gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/index.htm.
New York City Department of Buildings – www.nyc.gov/buildings. The DOB is advising all builders, contractors, developers and property owners to secure construction sites and buildings. Recommend measures can be found on their website.
Federal Emergency Management Agency – www.fema.gov. Provides necessary information about preparedness and relief assistance, as well as updates on Hurricane Irene.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority – www.mta.info. The MTA is bringing extra personnel this weekend and securing equipment in low-lying areas. Customers are urged to check the MTA’s website for updates about any suspension of service.
American Red Cross – www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross has prepared a hurricane safety checklist, advising on what you should do, what supplies you need, and what to do after the hurricane is over.
Battery Park City Authority – www.batteryparkcity.org. The BPCA will provide information on its website.
Take steps to prepare
Officials are encouraging New Yorkers to prepare emergency kits of basic supplies and “go bags” of essential documents, extra cash, medications, batteries and other items ready to grab in the unlikely event of an evacuation.
We also recommend you stay close to a television or radio to learn the latest information on emergency conditions.
You can also call 311 and/or sign up at the Notify NYC website – www.nyc.gov/notifynyc – to receive updates about emergency events via e-mail, SMS or phone.
The Downtown Alliance will keep you updated this weekend on the latest developments.