It's one of our favorite advertising slogans courtesy Time Out NY... 'Welcome to New York. Now get out." The NY Times answered a question from a reader yesterday about coastal evacuation signs that are posted high on lamposts in Astoria wondering what sort of impending doom prompted those. If a hurricane hits our low-lying city, the biggest risk comes not from the winds (although, they could be bad yes), but from the storm surge, the mass of water driven by winds and the low barometric pressure of the hurricane. You thought the subway drainage problem was bad? So how many of you have any clue if you should evacuate or how to evacuate if the situation arises?
In the last year, the city's Office of Emergency Management has ratcheted up its promotion of coastal flood evacuation information; the signs direct people to the nearest evacuation center, where people can be registered (frantic relatives would like to know where you are) and park their cars before being taken to a shelter.
Props to our friends at the NYC Office of Emergency Management. It's refreshing to have some foresight once in a while instead of always looking back on a preventable mishap or disaster. And with this hurricane season being as wicked as any, their timing seems perfect. As Gothamist Weather's Leslita posted back in April, The OEM has information about what to do and where to go if a hurricane... a real one, hit the city. Evacuation zones have been drawn up for the entire city. Think you're safe? Search for your address and find out
NY Hurricane history
NYC Hurricane Information
NY Evacuation Zones
