Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon in
anticipation of Hurricane Sandy, which is expected to make landfall in
the coming days along the East Coast.
Maximum sustained winds have steadily decreased over the last 24
hours as it moved through the Bahamas, but the storm is a big weather
system expected to bring heavy rainfall, high winds and coastal
flooding.
The National Hurricane Center reports
Sandy is a Category 1 storm as of Friday at 5 p.m., packing 75-mph winds (down from 105 mph). The hurricane has been blamed for at least 41 deaths in the Caribbean.
Cuomo said a state of emergency allows for the mobilization of
resources to local governments that otherwise are restricted to state
use only and suspends regulations that would impede rapid response.
“As we prepare for the possibility of Hurricane Sandy hitting New
York State, I am activating all levels of state government to prepare
for any potential impacts,” Cuomo said. “We are working with federal and
local partners to follow storm developments and organize a coordinated
response plan. With unpredictable weather conditions, we are taking the
greatest precautions – especially after our experience from last year’s
storms. I urge New Yorkers to plan for hurricane conditions and follow
news reports to stay updated on the storm’s progress.”
The latest forecast calls for the storm to eventually make landfall around Delaware by midday Tuesday.
With Jason MolinetFor more storm coverage, follow our WEATHER and HURRICANE groups. Become a blogger today!
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