—Amal Chen
5:47 p.m. | Flash Floods in Vermont
Parts of Vermont are experiencing flash flooding, with streets submerged under three feet of water. Catch some footage here, with a commentator saying, “Unbelievable” continuously: http://www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral/article/raging-waters-in-vermont-hurricane-irene_2011-08-28
—Shannon Liao
5:38 p.m. | US Open Tennis Tournament to Resume Monday
The USTA has announced that the US Open will begin on Monday as scheduled at the Billy Jean King Center in Flushing, N.Y. The association said it reported minimal damage and will be diligently preparing the venue throughout the day. Gates will open at 10 a.m., with matches set to begin at 11. The first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium will be at 1 p.m. Check back to The Epoch Times website for full US Open coverage starting on Monday.
—Kristen Meriwhether
5:34 p.m. | Some New York Buses Are Running
Since 4:30 p.m., BX1 to BX55, M1 to M116, and Q1 to Q113 have been running with delays. Others are still suspended, but the working buses are free of charge.
—Helena Zhu
5:30 p.m. | Obama Calls Americans ‘Resilient,’ Recovery Efforts Continue
President Obama, during a 5 p.m. press conference today, encouraged Americans for having done very well surviving Irene so far, calling them a “strong and resilient people.”
He said that the government was monitoring the storm and watching out for flooding.
There are search and rescue teams operating in flooded areas.
U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Napolitano spoke of a three-phased approach to dealing with the storm: preparation, response, and recovery. She thanked those who followed evacuation orders, saying that it freed up the rescue teams to help others.
She said FEMA was coordinating with local authorities to respond to the storm.
Director of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Craig Fugate said that the agency would continue working, even though Irene has been downgraded from a Category 1 Hurricane to a tropical storm. “We’re not going home just because it won’t be on the news.”
Obama ended by saying that Napolitano and Fugate will keep everyone updated through the week.
—Shannon Liao
5:14 p.m. | As Irene Weakens, Jose Forms
Tropical Storm Irene, with maximum sustained winds at 50 mph, is now nearing northern New England, the National Hurricane Center said. Irene, which is forecast to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone by tonight, is projected to move over eastern Canada tonight and early Monday.
Concurrently, Tropical Storm Jose is passing just west of Bermuda. It is not projected to move toward North America.
—Helena Zhu
4:48 p.m. | NY State Thruway Closures
Irene’s wrath is causing headaches for drivers between Hudson Valley and Albany, N.Y.
As of Sunday afternoon, a large stretch of the New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) has sustained a mudslide, fallen tree branches, and flooding, causing 90 miles of northbound lanes and 137 miles of southbound lanes to be closed indefinitely.
Thruway spokesperson Michael Sullivan told The Associated Press that some sections of the highway are underneath four feet of water. The Tappan Zee Bridge is also closed.
For the latest updates, visit the NYS Thruway Authority at http://www.thruway.ny.gov/index.shtml
—Mimi Li
4:37 p.m. | PATH Rail Service to Resume at 4 a.m. Monday
Port Authority announced that full PATH rail service in New Jersey and New York City will resume at 4 a.m. on Monday. The Port Authority’s Hudson River crossings and Staten Island bridges already are in full operation, with E-ZPass and cash tolls being accepted.
The bi-state agency continues to work with the FAA and its airline partners on restoring flight service at the region’s airports.
—Helena Zhu
4:22 p.m. | All Bridges to New York’s Rockaways Reopen: Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial, Broad Channel
—Helena Zhu
4:20 p.m. | MTA to Restore Limited Bus Serice at 4:30 p.m.
The MTA announced that it will restore limited bus service starting at 4:30 p.m. today.
—Helena Zhu
4:06 p.m. | Irene Aftermath: Midtown’s Tourists, Stores, Parks
Along the streets of Midtown Manhattan are stores closed off with duct tape, short letters, and heavy metal bars.
While some stores leave their lights on so passerby tourists can look at the merchandise with wistful, yearning glances, others turn everything off to save electricity.
But even the tourists, which normally swarm the city, are few and scarce. Groups of them wear bright blue raincoats, while exchanging quick conversations in foreign tongues.
Parks are closed, such as Bryant Park, the one next to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York’s main branch library, even though it is normally filled with people reading newspapers, feeding pigeons, or stopping by to have a coffee.
Subways are still down, leaving people to travel by foot or car.
For the few stores that are still open, they have braved the storm.
—Shannon Liao
“We had some customers, but not many,” said Abdul of Discount Cigarettes & Tobacco on West 37th Street and Sixth Avenue. His store remained open throughout the storm. A block away, Yunes Deli only closed for one hour, according to its cashier. Customers said they were impressed.
—Christine Lin
3:28 p.m. | 936,101 Customers Without Power in New York State, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
Cuomo said he will tour storm damage in Long Beach at 4:30 p.m.
—Helena Zhu
—Tianna Ren
2:57 p.m. | Hazardous Wind Gusts Possible
Tropical Storm Warning for NYC: As Hurricane Irene departs, hazardous wind gusts up to 55 mph still possible, according to the National Weather Service.
—Kristen Meriwhether
—Vicky Jiang
2:28 p.m. | Irene Aftermath for New York Pets
Even in times of emergency, New York pets aren’t left behind. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said city taxis and emergency evacuation centers were required to take clients and their pets.
And here they are: They’ve survived Irene!
—Dai Bing, Tara MacIsaac, and Vicky Jiang
2:10 p.m. | Irene Weakens, Passes New England
The National Hurricane Center said that the tropical storm is moving over New England. Irene is now 15 miles south of Pittsfield, Mass. Irene is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone by tonight.
—Helena Zhu
2:03 p.m. | Staten Island Ferry to Reopen
The Staten Island Ferry, which has been closed since 8 p.m. Saturday night due to Hurricane Irene, will reopen out of St. George at 3 p.m. on Sunday, according to New York City Mayors Office.
—Kristen Meriwether
—Christian Watjen
1:40 p.m. | MTA Chairman: Bus Service to Restore First
While exact time cannot be given, Jay Walder, chairman and CEO of the MTA, said bus service will resume first among all the transportation services.
According to preliminary assessments, Metro-North Railroad has suffered the worst damage with flooding and erosion of tracks, while the underriver subway tunnels in the East River thankfully was not flooded, even though they were expected to.
“It’s going to be tough,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “Jay doesn’t know yet. The important thing is he has kept the equipment safe.”
“We will just have to wait and see,” he said.
—Tara MacIsaac
1:30 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg: Not Safe to Go Home Yet
In his first press conference for Sunday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said all cranes at the World Trade Center have been taken down. Despite the arrival of Tropical Storm Irene and the temporary pause in work, the site’s 9/11 memorial will still open on time on Sept. 11.
Earlier this morning, Bloomberg visited FDR shelter in Brooklyn as he drove along the coastal areas. “The clients that they servce could not have been more appreciative,” Bloomberg said.
“The Good news is the worst is over,” Bloomberg said. “There is no confirmation of deaths or injuries from the storm.”
Bloomberg said “safety is the first priority,” even though he knows that evacuated residents are “very anxious” to get back home.
“We were unwilling to risk the life of a single New Yorker,” Bloomberg said of the evacuation of 370,000 New Yorkers from low-lying areas.
He said he hopes New Yorkers will learn lots about the storm so we will know better what to do in the future.
“Nobody likes to shut down the economy of the city, nobody wants to inconvenience people.”
He said Staten Island and Far Rockaways beaches had erosion. Ocean Beach in Bronx is underwater, while Bronx River has serious floods. Across the five boroughs, 62,000 houses are without power and 650 trees have been uprooted.
“I’ve always been fascinated with how we get the numbers,” Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg gave a “big thanks” to the taxi drivers for helping transport people when the subway system is down. He also noted that overnight crime has been below normal for the city when it’s going through hard times. The city only had 45 arrests last night when the average number for an August Saturday night is 345.
Although without mass transit, New Yorkers still have the option to visit the parks today. Just be careful under the trees, said Bloomberg.
—Tara MacIsaac
1:20 p.m. | Con Edison Vans Ready for Emergency at Union Square
About 100 Con Edison vans have gathered at Union Square. A worker said they are stationed there “in case of an emergency.” If the power goes out, “we will get busy,” he said.
—Zack Stieber
With Mayor Michael Bloomberg urging New Yorkers to stay indoors on Sunday morning, New York’s usually populated midtown is—for the first time in a while—empty.
—Chris Kitze
12:59 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg Urges New Yorkers to Report Fallen Trees
On his Twitter page, Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged New Yorkers to report all fallen trees and branches to 311.
—Helena Zhu
12:47 p.m. | The Night of Hurricane: A Photo Review
Although the city was shut down last night, emergency crew and reporters were still out and about in Lower Manhattan.
—Amal Chen
12:17 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg to Give Updates
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is scheduled to give an update on Irene and New York City. Epoch Times reporter Tara MacIsaac will keep you updated.
—Helena Zhu
—Jason Loftus via Charlotte Cuthbertson
11:40 a.m. | Tropical Storm Irene Now in Connecticut
Tropical Storm Irene, with maximum sustained winds at 60 mph, is now just 10 miles west of Danbury in Connecticut, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. The center of Irene is expected to move over northern New England later today and over eastern Canada tonight. It is forecast to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone by tonight.
—Helena Zhu
11:30 a.m. | FDR Drive Fully Closed
The city announced that the FDR Drive is fully closed, with the exception of East Houston Street to East 34th Street.
—Helena Zhu
11:25 a.m. | Port Authority Reopns North Tube of Holland Tunnel
The Port Authority has reopened the Holland Tunnel’s North Tube, which handles vehicles traveling from New York to New Jersey. The tube was closed earlier this morning due to flooding.
—Charlotte Cuthbertson
11:24 a.m. | NYSE Weathers the Storm, Opens Monday
New York Stock Exchange has weathered the storm—no damage or flooding. The stock exchange will be back in business on Monday.
—Kristen Meriwhether
11:15 a.m. | Soho Flooding ‘Happens a couple of times a year’: Resident
Despite the attention given to the flooding in Soho, a resident living at Grand Street and Broadway in Manhattan’s Soho said that flooding at the intersection happens a couple times a year—whenever it rains hard.
—Zack Stieber, Vicky Jiang, and Yi Yang
—Zack Stieber
10:48 a.m. | Subway Restoration of Service a ‘Lengthy Process’: MTA
In its latest alert, the MTA said the storm surge and heavy rains may cause additional widespread flooding, mudslide, washouts, fallen trees, and downed power lines that would damage the MTA’s signals, tracks, stations, under-river tunnels, and other infrastructure. Restoration of service is expected to be a “lengthy process.”
—Helena Zhu
10:25 a.m. | Water Knee-Deep in Soho
Grand Street and West Broadway in Manhattan’s Soho has flooding up to the knees on Sunday morning. All basements are flooded.
—Kristen Meriwhether
10:12 a.m. | Water Level Safe at Hudson River
Although windy and rainy, the water level at Hudson River remains safe early Sunday morning.
—Kristen Meriwhether
9:56 a.m. | MTA Workers Head Uptown to Fight Subway Flooding
After taking care of subway flooding in downtown Manhattan, some MTA workers are driving uptown to make sure the system’s barricades can withstand the flooding to minimize damage.
—Yi Yang
9:52 a.m. | Irene Starts to Leave New York City
The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Irene made landfall at Coney Island around 9 a.m. Its maximum sustained winds have dropped to 65mph, making it a tropical storm instead of a hurricane. The storm is now starting to leave.
—Helena Zhu
9:40 a.m. | 9/11 Memorial Safe
9/11 Memorial at WTC has weathered the hurricane. “No severe flooding and none of the memorial trees were lost,” 9/11 Memorial updated on its Twitter page.
9:35 a.m. | Bridges Are Opening Up
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on his Twitter page the opening of five bridges: Bear Mountain Bridge with sustained winds at 14 mph, Newburgh-Beacon Bridge with sustained winds at 11 mph, Mid-Hudson Bridge with sustained winds at 18 mph, Kinston-Rhinecliff Bridge with sustained winds at 20 mph, and Rip Van Winkle Bridge with sustained winds at 29 mph. Marine Parkway Bridge and Cross Bay Bridge are still suspended. Bridges close when the sustained winds reach 60 mph.
—Helena Zhu
9:26 a.m. | Power Outages Sweep Across New York State
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on his Twitter page that approximately 370,000 people are without power across the state right now, with 204,030 LIPA customers affected, 70,611 Con Edison customers and 42,311 NYSEG customers. Geographically, 24,877 are without power in Queens, 16,688 in Staten Island, 16,688 in Westchester, 16,124 in Bronx, and 6,668 in Brooklyn.
—Helena Zhu
8:30 a.m. | Irene coming into New York still as Category 1 Hurricane
Irene is sporting 75 mph sustained winds, with its center nearing New York City, the NOAA reports. Torrential rains continue. I really wouldn’t want to be outside right now ... strongly suggest you follow NYC Severe Weather’s advice and stay indoors! The storm is now less than 40 miles south of New York City.
—Jan Jekielek
1:55 a.m. | It’s really starting to blow!
Experienced around Union Square, the wind is really starting to blow, and the rain is getting borderline torrential. A big change from an hour-and-a-half ago.
—Jan Jekielek
12:18 a.m. | Meteorologist Anthony Farrell Eyes Irene
Anthony Farrell, a meteorologist for Global Toronto in Canada, said it does look like Long Island is going to be seeing the direct effect of the eye, possibly even into parts of Manhattan.
Read more here.
—Charlotte Cuthbertson
View next page for Saturday’s updates.
11:50 p.m. | Parkway Entrance to George Washington Bridge Closes
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has closed the Palisades Interstate Parkway entrance to the George Washington Bridge due to weather conditions.
—Charlotte Cuthbertson
11:22 p.m. | DC Loses Power as Hurricane Approaches
Epoch Times reporter Nick Zifcak said residents in DC’s northeast have lost power since 8 p.m. Due to heavy rain, water has been dripping through the roof of one house.
—Nick Zifcak via Cindy Drukier
11:07 p.m. | As Irene Passes Maryland, DC Trees Fall
As Hurricane Irene passes by Maryland, a local DC resident posted on Facebook that part of the tree in his front lawn just came down. The Category 1 storm also took down his phone and cable lines.
—Cindy Drukier
10:49 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg: Don’t Go Outside Tomorrow Morning
In a delayed press conference on Saturday evening, Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned all New Yorkers not to leave their homes on Sunday morning.
Bloomberg: The winds will increase, the rain will increase, and the storm surge will increase, particularly tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning when you wake up, no matter what you see, please stay inside, since many things, such as branches, will be flying around.
“I think what’s really important is that nature is a lot stronger than the rest of us,” said Bloomberg.
While those still in the evacuation zones should have left earlier, Bloomberg said that if they are still in the zones right now, they should stay where they are, since the mass transit is down, the night is dark, and the rain is heavy.
As for the subway, Bloomberg said while he is not 100 percent sure if everyone has left the subway, “the bottom line” is, “you cannot live in the subways.”
Regarding reports that New York hotels are beginning to shut off their air conditioners and elevators, Bloomberg said, “there are reports about everything.” But he doesn’t think there are any reasons why the hotels would do so, except if the power goes out while people are in the elevators, the hotel staff will need to get those people.
As Hurricane Irene nears New York tonight, Bloomberg urges everyone to get a good night’s sleep and stay inside tomorrow to ensure minimal damage to human beings.
—Helena Zhu
10:29 p.m. | Homeless People Still in Evacuation Zone
Even though Whitehall Street is within the evacuation zone in lower Manhattan, homeless people still remain at the Whitehall Street subway station on Saturday evening.
—Kristen Meriwhether
10:18 p.m. | Mayor Bloomberg’s Press Conference Delayed
Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s scheduled press conference at 9:30 p.m. is delayed.
—Helena Zhu
10:15 p.m. | NY Hotels to Shut Off AC and Elevators
New York City tourists and residents staying at one of the city’s hotels won’t be able to escape the storm without it impacting their lives somehow.
Hotels in the city have begun shutting off air conditioning at 10 p.m., and elevators are being grounded to a halt, according to 77 WABC Radio.
—Mimi Li
10:11 p.m. | Troops, Humvees Roll in Manhattan to Combat Hurricane
U.S. Army troops were piling up on Lexington Avenue between 24th and 26th streets at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, yet no one would give an official interview because they said didn’t know what they were there for. They said they were just there to help out the neighborhood and their headquarters were nearby anyway.
Substations receive as much as 27,000 volts from power plants and convert it for use in the subway, according to the MTA website. The third (contact) rail uses 625 volts to operate trains.
Alternating current operates signals, station and tunnel lighting, ventilation, and miscellaneous line equipment. Direct current operates trains and auxiliary equipment, such as water pumps and emergency lighting.
Mr. Ali said the workers were not going home “until it is over” and that they would stay the night at the headquarters downtown.
—Charlotte Cuthbertson
9:35 p.m. | Hurricane Warning Issued for All Five Boroughs
The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for all five boroughs. It will be in effect for 24 hours until 9:15 p.m. Sunday.
—Helena Zhu
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has closed the lower level of the George Washington Bridge in both directions. Tractor trailers, motorcycles, and house trailers are urged to seek alternate routes. The upper level of the bridge currently remains open.
Passengers are reminded to check www.panynj.gov for updated information about PATH and all other Port Authority facilities. For further information about safety precautions, evacuation routes and best practices for New Jersey, visit ready.nj.gov; for New York State, visit www.511ny.org; and for New York City, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/nycsevereweather/weather_home.shtml.
—Charlotte Cuthbertson
8:56 p.m. | Tornado Watch for New York City; Mayor Update at 9:30
Tornado watch is in effect until 5 a.m. Sunday for New York, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Westchester, and Staten Island. Unlike a tornado warning, which is a notification that a tornado has been seen or picked up by radar, a tornado watch is just to let the residents know that they should be on the lookout for a possible tornado.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg will give his next Hurricane Irene update at 9:30 p.m. Watch live on NYC-TV Channel 74 or on nyc.gov. His last update was given at 3 p.m.
—Helena Zhu
Manhattan—the business hub of the Western world—was devoid of the normal hustle-and-bustle of daily life. Tourists were generally nowhere to be found.
Many businesses closed early on Saturday and some placed tape on their windows in hopes of preventing glass from flying in high winds. Many area grocery stores had run out of basic staples.
Read more here.
—Jack Phillips
8:12 p.m. | WTC Construction Damage Still Possible
Even though Mayor Michael Bloomberg has suspended World Trade Center construction on Friday and cranes and securing building supplies have been dismantled, AccuWeather.com said that there is still a risk of damage to the new building itself.
—Helena Zhu
8:01 p.m. | Update on NYC Colleges and Universities
Columbia University: The university has advised students, faculty, and staff to stay indoors after 9 p.m. Saturday and recommended to charge their electronics lest power goes out. All events scheduled for Sunday, including undergraduate move-in, have been rescheduled or canceled.
New York University: Employees providing essential services are expected to report for their usual work assignments on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Students are still be able to get food from the Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, the Kimmel Center, and the Palladium Residence Hall over the weekend.
CUNY: All CUNY campuses and offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
New School: While student residences are open throughout the weekend, all other university facilities are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Students will be back to school on Monday or “as soon thereafter as circumstances allow.”
Pace University: The New York City campus will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. All other campuses close at 5 p.m. on Saturday and through the day on Sunday.
—Helena Zhu
The catch? The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission essentially increased fares for cabs using a “zone fare system.”
The Commission said that during the impending storm, riders will be initially charged $10, with a $5 fee for entering another zone. Normally taxis charge by how long it takes to get from destination to destination.
Read more here.
—Jack Phillips and Amal Chen
7:25 p.m. | Atlantic City’s Power Outages and Warnings
If I were in Atlantic City, New Jersey, I wouldn’t bet on a night of calm.
Almost 15,000 Atlantic City Electric customers are now without power, according to The Weather Channel. Atlantic City is now under a tornado watch, flood warning, flood watch, and hurricane warning.
—Helena Zhu
7:20 p.m. | Long Island to Be Hit Hardest, Says Meteorologist
Andrew Farrell, a meteorologist from Toronto, surveys the scene at Battery Park City Saturday afternoon.
“Already we’re seeing rain in New York, but the storm’s almost 400 miles away—which is impressive stuff—and it’s going to ride right up the coastline. It does look like Long Island is going to be seeing the direct effect of the eye, possibly even into parts of Manhattan.
“It builds your excitement as we get ready for the eye of the storm, which should be sometime Sunday morning between 8 and 10am,” Farrell said.
—Robert Counts and Charlotte Cuthbertson
7:08 p.m. | Forecast: Heart of Storm to Just Miss NYC
In its new hurricane warning for New York, National Weather Service said Hurricane Irene will track north-northeast along the mid-Atlantic Coast to “just south of New York City and Long Island” by Sunday morning. It warned that the “worst conditions” are expected late tonight into Sunday afternoon, with damaging winds, flooding rains, and significant coastal flooding.
“Do not focus on the exact forecast track, as the impacts of the hurricane will be felt over a large area due to the size of the storm,” the advisory said.
The Category 1 Hurricane Irene is now 315 miles south-southwest of New York City. While its maximum sustained winds remain near 80 mph, it now has higher gusts. It is forecast to weaken upon landfall in New England.
—Helena Zhu
6:44 p.m. | Photo: Boarding Up, but Open for Business
Hill Country Chicken on Broadway and 25th is taking no chances as Hurricane Irene approaches New York City. They have battened down the hatches, but are open for business to those hungry New Yorkers who are still out on the streets.
—Chris Kitze via Charlotte Cuthbertson
6:26 p.m. | Photos: Empty Transit Centers
With transportation shutdowns across the city, New York’s Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station are empty or nearly empty.
—Staff
6:19 p.m. | NYC Libraries Shutter
Due to the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irene, all locations of the New York Public Library will be closed on Saturday and Sunday.
—Helena Zhu
6:15 p.m. | Tonight’s Forecast for New York
The Weather Channel forecasts that New York City might have tropical storm or hurricane conditions tonight. A wind driven heavy rain. Low 71F. E winds at 20 to 30 mph, increasing to 35 to 50 mph. Rainfall expected to exceed 2 inches. While the wind will persist, the rain will clear up on Sunday night.
—Helena Zhu
5:27 p.m. | In New York’s Evacuation Zones, Some Staying Put
The New York Times has reported that some residents of New York’s Evacuation Zone A, which is under a mandatory evacuation zone order, are refusing to leave.
Their rationale? They aren’t concerned about the impacts Hurricane Irene might have on them, their homes, and their belongings.
From the Times:
Despite well-publicized warnings that the Rockaway peninsula in Queens was under a mandatory evacuation alert, many residents defied the order on Saturday and insisted upon riding out the storm at home.
“I’m not taking this lightly, but a flood can only do so much,” said Laquan Bostick, 22, who lives in a ninth floor apartment in the Beach 41st Street Houses, a public housing complex, with his mother. Mr. Bostick said his mother left and urged him to come with her. But he declined, and instead bought food, batteries, ice and even vitamins to wait out the storm.
[...]
People in other low-lying neighborhoods across New York City, especially in public housing, expressed similar skepticism about the need to leave. Their determination alarmed some officials, who issued increasingly strident statements all day long about the risks of staying. In some housing complexes on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the city sent buses to transport people, but they sat empty, even though officials had announced that elevators would be turned off in the evening.
—Yi Yang
5:14 p.m. | Irene Is 340 Miles From New York; 6-12 Inches of Rain Expected
According to the NOAA’s latest advisory, Hurricane Irene is now only about 340 miles south of New York City with maximum sustained winds at 80 mph. On the forecast track, Irene, a Category 1 storm, is expected to move near or over the mid-Atlantic coast tonight and move over southern New England on Sunday. Irene is forecast to move into eastern Canada Sunday night.
Hazards:
1. Tropical storm-force winds will spread northward along the mid-Atlantic coast this evening with hurricane conditions expected tonight.
2. An “extremely dangerous” storm tide will raise water levels by as much as 5 to 9 feet above ground level in North Carolina.
3. Irene is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches in NC, New York, and other areas. These rains “could cause widespread flooding, life-threatening flash floods, and signficant uprooting of trees due to rain-softened grounds.”
4. Large swells generated by Irene are affecting much of the East Coast. They will cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.
5. Isolated tornadoes are possible along the coast of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey tonight.
—Helena Zhu
5:03 p.m. | Battery Park Deserted Except for Media
Epoch Times photojournalist Robert Counts reports via Charlotte Cuthbertson:
“It is calm at Battery City Park at 2 p.m. Saturday. TV crews are setting up en masse to watch the progress of Hurricane Irene. Only the Staten Island Ferry was seen operating. Only a couple of people out walking in the park, and one person taking her dog for a walk. Usually Battery City Park is a bustling tourist attraction; the gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.”
—Staff
4:51 p.m. | NYSE to Operate Normally Monday
The New York Stock Exchange’s parent company announced that it will operate normally on Monday.
The release from NYSE Euronext reads:
NYSE Euronext has completed additional preparedness reviews today in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Irene, and the storm’s potential impact on the New York City metropolitan area and surrounding region. Preparations are complete on our Trading Floor and in our data centers to conduct trading sessions on Monday morning, August 29, as usual. At this time we anticipate normal trading and post-trade schedules at the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Arca, NYSE Amex, NYSE Arca Options, NYSE Amex Options, and NYSE Liffe U.S. on Monday.
An update will follow Sunday afternoon. Additional notifications will be posted as warranted.
—Staff
4:40 p.m. | Photos: Wall St., World Trade Center, Herald Square, and More
Epoch Times photographers shot these photos of New York as Hurricane Irene makes its way up the east coast. Stores are closed, squares are empty, and rain has drizzled on and off.
—Staff
Epoch Times reporter Kristen Meriwether spotted three army Humvees near 34th St. and 10th Ave. in New York.
It’s barely raining in Manhattan, and the general consensus among the New Yorkers that she has talked to is that Bloomberg shut down MTA and other city services too early.
With subway systems boarded up, the streets are quiet except for some pockets where people have gathered, such as near the Empire State Building.
—Kristen Meriwether and Charlotte Cuthbertson
4:01 p.m. | Airports to Suspend Operations Tonight
Airports had been handling departing flights while cutting off arrivals, but now the Port Authority has announced that four New York regional airports will suspend their operations tonight.
The alert reads: “Effective 10 p.m., tonight, Aug 27th, all aeronautical operations will be suspended at JFK, LGA, EWR, & SWF.” referring to JFK, Laguardia, Newark, and Stewart airports.
—Staff
3:55 p.m. | NYC Mayor Bloomberg Warns of Cell Service Failure, Urges Evacuation
New York Mayor Bloomberg warned in a speech that if there is a power outage in the city, cell towers and cell service may run for up to only three hours.
While some bridges will be closed later today, others will be open, and the ones that do will have speed limits imposed on them, Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg: 14,000 New Yorkers have already evacuated to emergency shelters. The city is not worried about reaching capacity in those shelters because a lot of evacuees must have sought refuge with friends or family.
“We are not going to break down doors” if people in evacuation zones don’t evacuate, but it is the law, Bloomberg added. “These laws are there for good reasons.”
Bloomberg acknowledged that while many people took the mass transit to leave their homes, it may not be a reliable way to get back.
On water, Bloomberg said: “The water system should still work. But having said that, if you are in a tall building, you may not. ... That’s why we suggest you fill your bathtubs and sinks tonight.”
If you are in an evacuation zone but don’t know how to get out of it, Bloomberg suggested walking out of the low-lying areas. Then, either call emergency services or flag down a police car.
—Helena Zhu
3:30 p.m. | Final Evacuation Warnings for New Yorkers
New York City officials on Saturday issued their final evacuation warning as locals await the arrival of Hurricane Irene, which is churning north along the East Coast. Read more.
—Staff
