Watch Out!

New York City Emergency Management has issued a travel advisory for Monday evening, October 25, through Tuesday afternoon, October 26. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for New York City beginning at 8 p.m. Monday, October 25, through 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 26. According to the latest forecast, light to moderate rain is expected citywide Monday evening through Tuesday evening with an expected rainfall rate of 0.25 inch to 0.5 inch per hour, and a maximum rainfall rate of up to 1 inch per hour. A few periods of heavy rainfall are likely between 12 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday and can impact both the morning and evening commutes. Winds are expected to be 20 mph to 30 mph and winds gusts of up to 40 mph are expected Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening. Lingering showers then possible through Wednesday morning. A total of 2 inches to 4 inches of rain is expected with locally higher amounts possible.

NYC Emergency Management will activate the City’s virtual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Monday evening with City, state, and private partners to coordinate the response to the storm. The New York City Emergency Management Department is prepared, and will monitor the storm and rapidly respond to any potential impacts throughout the city.

“This event may cause flooding in the city, including on highways, streets, underpasses, as well as other poor drainage or low-lying spots,” NYC Emergency Management Incoming Acting Commissioner Andrew D’Amora 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 and its third-party forecasting 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 and will activate the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) beginning Monday evening at 8 p.m.
• 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 in contact with elected officials and community partners.
• Notify NYC, the City’s official emergency communications program, will issue emergency alerts and updates to its subscribers throughout the event.
• NYC Emergency Management is issuing Advance Warning System (AWS) messages to service providers to encourage their clients to prepare for the incoming weather. The AWS message is disseminated to more than 1,400 local nonprofits and organizations that work with people with disabilities and access and functional needs.
• New York City Community Emergency Response Team (NYC CERT) members will clean debris from catch basins across the city.
• The City’s Downed Tree Task Force and Tow Truck Task Force have been placed on alert.
• 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 will continue to monitor 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. Sign up for Notify NYC to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language by visiting  NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device.

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