NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

 

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect citywide from 4 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday

 New York City Emergency Management has issued a travel advisory for Thursday, September 23 through Friday, September 24. According to the National Weather Service, rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast citywide beginning Thursday afternoon through Friday. Light rain on Thursday morning will become steadier after 2 p.m. with a chance for scattered thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Maximum rainfall rates are forecasted to potentially reach 1 inch per hour. The greatest chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms is from 6 p.m. Thursday through 2 a.m. Friday. There is also a potential for 60 mph wind gusts during periods of heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms. A total of 1.5 inches to 2 inches of rain are expected with locally higher amounts possible. The National Weather Service has also issued a Flash Flood Watch for New York City beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, September 23, through 8 a.m. Friday, September 24. A Flash Flood Watch is issued for New York City when there is a forecast for 1 inch of rain per hour for an entire hour.

The New York City Emergency Management Department is prepared, and will monitor the storm and rapidly respond to any potential impacts throughout the city. 

“The City is still working to recover Ida, and we want to ensure that New Yorkers are ready. New Yorkers should prepare for possible thunderstorms that can cause strong wind gusts and moderate rainfall,” NYC Emergency Management Commissioner John Scrivani said. “New Yorkers should give themselves additional travel time and take the appropriate precautions if they must move about the city during the storm.”  

Agency Actions 

  

• NYC Emergency Management is working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the storm’s track to determine any potential impacts to New York City.  
• NYC Emergency Management has activated the City’s Flash Flood Emergency Plan.
• NYC Emergency Management is hosting daily interagency conference calls with agency partners to coordinate the City’s preparation for the storm. 
• NYC Emergency Management is contact with elected officials and community partners.  
• The Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Sanitation have crews cleaning debris on basins and are canvassing arterial highways for debris, inspecting all known flood locations and cleaning as required.  
• Department of Transportation crews surveyed roadways in the city and will continue to do so throughout the night. 
• NYPD and FDNY will monitor roadway and neighborhood conditions. 

  

Safety Tips 

  

• If you live in a basement apartment, be prepared to move to a higher floor during periods of heavy rain.
• If you live in a flood-prone area, keep materials such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber on hand to help protect your home.  
• If you have a disability or access or functional need, make sure your plan addresses how your needs may affect your ability to evacuate, shelter in place, or communicate with emergency workers. Arrange help from family, friends, or service providers if you will need assistance. 
• Exercise caution when traveling. Do not drive your vehicle or walk into areas where water covers the roadway as the water depth may be too great to allow you to cross safely. Use mass transit if possible.
• When outside, avoid walking and driving through flooded areas. As few as six inches of moving water can knock a person over. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling. One or two feet of water can carry away a vehicle. 
• Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters. Avoid flooded subway stations.
• If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that tree limbs, leaves, or water can cover downed wires from view. Always stay away from downed power lines because they could be live. 
• Strong winds can bring down trees and power lines and can turn unsecured objects into dangerous projectiles. They can also cause power outages. To prepare for these hazards, New Yorkers should:

• Check the area immediately surrounding your home for unsecured objects or potentially dangerous conditions. Tree limbs, garbage cans, yard debris, or other materials that can be moved by the wind are potential projectiles aimed at your home or parked vehicle.
• Bring inside loose, lightweight objects such as lawn furniture, potted plants, garbage cans, garden tools and toys.

• Report downed wires immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you are in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel. 

Power Outages 

  

• To prepare for a possible power outage, charge cell phone batteries, gather supplies, and turn your refrigerator and freezer to a colder setting. If you lose power, items that need refrigeration will stay cooler for longer. 
• Make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios or televisions are working. Keep extra batteries. 
• If you lose power and have a disability, access and functional needs or use life-sustaining equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance, dial 911. 
• Do not use generators indoors. 
• Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed. 

  

Stay Informed 

  

Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels including Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.