Hurricane Sandy Storm Surge NYC: Officials Order Evacuations, Brace For Worst
New Yorkers braced Monday for what could be immense damage from Hurricane Sandy once the storm makes landfall on the East Coast.
A storm surge as large as 11 feet tall is expected to pound New York City after 4 p.m. today, and wind gusts could reach speeds as fast as 85 mph, according to a report from The Daily Mail.
To prepare for the storm's effects, the New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority shut down the city's subway system at 7 p.m. on Sunday, and all tunnels into and out of the city will be closed 2 p.m. on Monday. New York City public schools were also closed on Monday.
The city has also called for evacuations of residents in Zone A, the part of New York with the highest danger for flooding when the storm surge hits. More than 375,000 residents were told to evacuate from Lower Manhattan and other parts of the city.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned residents Monday that the worst was still ahead, but he affirmed that he feels confident the city will work together to ride out the storm as best it can and return to normal as quickly as possible.
"The worst is still to come," Cuomo said. "We are known for our toughness, but we have a sense of community that is very inspirational."
According to other reports, New York City could face the most severe effects of Hurricane Sandy.
"Forecasters warned that the New York City region could face the worst of the hurricane," Fox news reported. "As of 9 a.m. Monday, the storm was centered about 300 miles southeast of New York City, moving to the north at 14 mph, with hurricane-force winds extending an incredible 175 miles from its center. The National Hurricane Center said early Monday the storm has intensified, with top sustained winds of 85 mph and higher gusts."
