NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADVISES NEW YORKERS TO PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS

 

The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a travel advisory for Monday afternoon, June 26, through Tuesday, June 27. According to the National Weather Service, New York City may experience scattered showers with the potential for severe thunderstorms starting late afternoon through the evening. The severe thunderstorms may affect the evening’s commute, with rain expected to continue into Tuesday morning. Rain amounts will range from a quarter of an inch to half an inch. There is also a potential for minor flooding in poor drainage areas.

“New York City Emergency Management has been monitoring this weather pattern with the National Weather Service and we urge New Yorkers who live in flood prone areas to take precautions. New York City may experience severe thunderstorms and we encourage New Yorkers to take precautions during this evening’s commute,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “New Yorkers should exercise caution when moving about the city during and after the heavy rains.”

Safety Tips

• Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation. 
• If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible. 
• If you live in a basement apartment in a flood prone area, prepare to move to higher ground.
• Do not drive into flooded streets or enter flooded subway stations.
• 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. Sign up for emergency notifications at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free app for your Android or Apple device. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.