NYC is 'Cane Ready

When we hear city officials say that New York City is prepared if a hurricane hit, Gothamist must raise a skeptical eyebrow. Sure, the Office of Emergency Management monitors the weather and apparently "update the hurricane models four times a day," but is having 36 hours notice enough time? Perhaps we've been watching too many disaster movies where the only people who survive fit into certain cliches (Gothamist will be first in line to play the overreacting jerk who learns the error of our ways and does survive), but maybe if the West Side Jets stadium were sold as a "hurricane shelter," it would have had a fighting chance. But for now, New Yorkers' only contact with the hurricane is in the form of high gas prices.

The OEM has information about hurricanes and storms for New Yorkers, plus a seriously excellent timeline of NYC's storm history.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 30, 2005 7:44 AM

Comments [rss]

sP

actually, I beg to differ. NOLA is below sea level. They had no evacuation plan and there is only one way out of town. New York happens to have a bit of a physical advantage in that most of it (aside from the southern most tip of Manhattan) is well above sea level, and there are multiple bridges at a high enough elevation to allow for evacuation (GWB, Whitestone, Verazano, Tappan Zee to name a few). Add to that a more responsible local government and New York would come out much better than NOLA. There would of course be a lot of damage, but none of the flooding and much less loss of life.

kbc

If anyone seriously believes New York is any more prepared for a major hurricane than New Orleans was, I have a bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, to sell you.

New York would be as 'out of commission' as New Orleans at this point after a direct hit from a Katrina-caliber storm. Anyone beg to differ?

Sheesh

-kbc

sp

wont someone please think of the children?!?!?!?

Kojak

I didnt find anything she said to be Inappropriate Samantha. Not even insensitive.

Most people have the same attitude about the storm anyway.

Now THIS is Inappropriate!

http://uhohwereintrouble.ytmnd.com/

Samantha T

Wow - very appropriate use of an ironic tone while the death toll rises in Louisiana and Mississippi, Jen.

tien

those signs have been up for a while. but it makes sense that you would now notice after reading that article.

Rocknrope

Nice use of the Day After Tomorrow image.

Dave H.

The NY Press had an interesting but unsettling article a few weeks ago about what would happen to NYC if it got hit directly by a major hurricane, which we're due for. Long story short: break out the life rafts or learn to swim. Since reading the article I have started to notice signs indicating hurricane evacuation routes throughout the city.