Hurricane Irene Information for New York City
Note: For up-to-date information on Hurricane Sandy, please visit this page.
Less than a week after being shaken by an earthquake, the New York City area is now bracing for Hurricane Irene.
Hurricane Irene – projected path via John Keefe / WNYC
The current path of the hurricane will hit very near to New York City and will bring heavy rains to the entire metro area over the weekend. The storm is forecast to be between a Category 1 or Category 2 intensity by the time it reaches New Jersey, with winds around 100mph.
- New York City radar map
- NOAA’s page for Hurricane Irene information and specifically for NYC
- Tracking Hurricane Irene at the Weather Channel
- Find further weather sources on the AGBC emergency weather page
Preparation
It’s important to be prepared ahead of time in the event that the storm causes an significant impact on the area. Getting the proper supplies will be much easier before the storm hits and can make a huge difference in your comfort and ability to literally weather the storm.
Follow the NYC Office of Emergency Management’s guide to prepare your emergency supply kit and Go Bag.
Be sure to sign up for NY-ALERT notifications before the storm arrives. The alert system will notify you via email and text message with any special warnings pertaining to your area.
The CDC has a comprehensive page on hurricane preparedness
NYC’s Department of Health has a guide to free and low-cost ways to prepare for an emergency [PDF]
Ready New York’s Household Preparedness Guide
Learn more about how to prepare for many types of disasters and read further details on many survival categories at 72hours.org
Some basic steps to take:- Buy bottled water or store tap water in containers
- Fill any prescription medications to ensure you won’t run out
- Visit the bank to withdraw cash because ATMs may be affected by electrical outages
- Buy extra batteries to use in a battery-powered radio or flashlight
- Stock up on canned and non-perishable food and plan some meals that are simple to prepare at home
- Make a written copy of phone numbers for loved ones and emergency contact numbers for your apartment’s management company, landlord, or superintendent
If you will be evacuating from your home, or if you want to notify loved ones that you are safe, you can use the Red Cross Safe and Well tool, which provides a way to register yourself and allow others to know you are not in danger.
Emergency Information
As the storm nears the city, it will be vital to have current and usable information.
NYC Office of Emergency Management
- Find out if you are in an evacuation area based on your address using the NYC Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) evacuation zone tool or use the NYC Hurricane Zones map [PDF]
- Watch the OEM’s homepage and Twitter feed for up-to-date information
Hurricane evacuation zones via NYC OEM
Use the zoom controls to zoom in to your location on the map
You can also use the OASISnyc map of evacuation zones and shelters, which you can learn more about at this blog post.
The following sources of information are maintained by A Great Big City:
- Emergency Information for the New York City area
- A list of Twitter sources for emergency news and updates
- Twitter lists for New York area government accounts and New York area news accounts
If you are in an emergency or hazardous situation, always call 911 first. If you have a non-emergency situation to report, call 311.
