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Cuomo Outlines Hurricane Irene Plans: "We Are Preparing For The Worst"
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Aug 26, 2011
Modified Aug 26, 2011
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By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Aug 26, 2011
Modified Aug 26, 2011
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Governor Cuomo has officially announced a full-on MTA shutdown starting tomorrow at noon ahead of Hurricane Irene. Subways, buses, LIRR, Metro-North and Access-A-Ride are all being cancelled, and, if things get really bad, bridges and highways will be closed, too.
"We are fully committed and we are preparing for the worst," says Cuomo. Here's his official statement:
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.
MTA chairman Jay Walder said during a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg this afternoon, "Please do not wait for the last train. There is simply not capacity for everyone to get on the last train.... We will work to get everyone out of the low-lying areas as efficiently as possible...If you don't need to travel tomorrow, please don't."
Be sure to check if you're in an evacuation zone now before the shutdown goes into effect, and if you plan on sticking around, here's what to load up on (hint: whiskey).
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