A Message From Borough President Marty Markowitz Regarding Precautions For Hurricane Sandy

From the office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz:

By 7:00 this evening, all residents in Evacuation Zone A should have left their homes to stay with loved ones or at one of the city shelters that opened earlier this morning. This includes, but is not limited to, Brooklynites living in parts of Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Sunset Park, Red Hook, DUMBO, Williamsburg and Greenpoint. I strongly urge all residents in this zone to follow the evacuation order for their personal welfare as well as the safety of rescue personnel who will have to risk their own lives in the event of serious, life-threatening conditions.

Since Thursday, my office has been providing updates through our website (www.brooklyn-usa.org), Facebook (www.facebook.com/martymarkowitz) and Twitter (@MartyMarkowitz). We encourage residents to use these resources, or visit nyc.gov or call 311 for the latest on the storm. We have also been in constant contact with the Mayor’s office and other city agencies as we await Sandy’s arrival. Our Community Service Center hotline, 718-802-3777, is being monitored around the clock, and residents are invited to call us with non-emergency issues and questions only. To report emergencies, dial 911.

With mass transit not operating until further notice, there may be a temptation to drive during the most severe weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday morning, but residents are strongly advised to stay off the roads and allow emergency crews to do their job. Do not approach or touch downed power lines as they may be live. Instead contact ConEd or, in the event of a gas leak, National Grid. The phone numbers are available by clicking on the Hurricane Sandy button on our website. Remember also to check on the status of family and friends, particularly our seniors and residents with disabilities, who will have difficulty getting around in the case of an emergency.

Forecasters expect Sandy to have more far-reaching impacts than we experienced last year with Irene, so residents need to remain vigilant, follow the directives of the city and emergency officials, and remain home if not under an evacuation order. Brooklynites are tough but it’s also important to use common sense and err on the side of caution. As we have done in the past, I know our borough and city will band together, help our neighbors, and weather the storm.