By Eileen Buckley
Albany, NY – The State of New York continues to make emergency preparations in advance of Hurricane Irene.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Friday convened an emergency session of his Cabinet to review plans to protect New Yorkers and mitigate the potential effects of the hurricane.
"We have moved quickly to initiate our emergency plans, to work with our federal and local partners, and to identify, prepare, and put into place one of the most aggressive activations of New York State government ever assembled in the face of a possible natural disaster," Governor Cuomo said. "We are fully committed and we are preparing for the worst."
Public transportation in New York City will shut down at about noon on Saturday as will New Jersey Transit. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered evacuations for residents in low-lying areas of the city.
The New York State Thruway Authority says it expects road and bridge clousures in New York City and Hudson Valley during Hurricane Irene. These closures may include I-87 the NYS Thruway between NYC and Albany, including the Tappan Zee Bridge. This region is under a state of emergency and motorists should avoid the area.
Governor Cuomo also urged homeowners to prepare for the potential economic impact of Hurricane Irene by reviewing their insurance policies, gathering emergency claim numbers, securing insurance information and watching out for potential scam artists looking to take advantage of the potential disaster.
"Homeowners should do everything they can to prepare their property to prevent damage. But there are things you can do before the storm to make it easier to deal with damage from a hurricane if it does happen," Governor Cuomo noted. "Consumers should consider taking steps to protect themselves now. Developing a home inventory, assembling information on your insurance policies and understanding what to do should a disaster affect you are things that can better prepare anyone against losses from a storm."
On Governor Cuomo's orders, the following actions are being implemented immediately:
* The New York Army and Air National Guard will deploy up to 900 soldiers and airmen and over 100 vehicles to support civil authorities; those troops have already begun to report
* The Metropolitan Transit Authority will institute a system-wide shut-down when trains and buses begin their final runs starting at approximately noon on Saturday; the shut-down will include subways, buses, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and Access-A-Ride
* If sustained wind speeds exceed 60 mph, all of the following bridges will be closed to all traffic: George Washington Bridge, Tappan Zee bridge, all bridges operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and the following Hudson River bridges: Bear Mountain Bridge, Newburgh-Beacon, Mid-Hudson (Poughkeepsie), Kingston-Rhinecliff, and Rip Van Winkle (Catskill)
* The New York State Thruway and possibly other major highways will also be closed if sustained wind speeds exceed 60 mph; further closings will be announced as the storm progresses
* LIPA will have 2,500 line workers and tree trim personnel available throughout the weekend for emergency repair work, its largest emergency roster ever 175 extra ambulances and personnel will be deployed in regions expected to be hit the hardest by the storm
* In preparation of the potential impact of Hurricane Irene, Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency in New York.
A state of emergency enables New York to use state resources to assist local governments more effectively and quickly.
"In this emergency I am activating all levels of state government to prepare for any situation that may be caused by Hurricane Irene," Governor Cuomo said.
This will allow the state to activate the national "Emergency Management Assistance Compact" to bring in resources from out of the state, and enables New York to access key federal resources earlier in anticipation of an emergency.
"We are communicating with our federal and local partners to track the storm and to plan a coordinated response, and we will deploy resources as needed to the areas expected to be hit the hardest. I urge New Yorkers to personally prepare for hurricane conditions and to cooperate with emergency officials if needed. By working together, we will all be able to face this storm in a calm and organized manner," said Governor Cuomo.
Governor Cuomo urges New Yorkers to take stock of their emergency supplies, such as water, non-perishable food, radios, batteries, supplies for any pets, and first aid kits. The Governor also encourages New Yorkers to check in with neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled, who might need assistance to ensure that their needs are met if emergency instructions are issued.