Senator Golden Reminds you to Prepare for Hurricane Irene

I am writing today to inform you about the possibility of the upcoming hurricane affecting our area. Hurricane Irene strengthened to a major Category 3 storm and while it is still too early to predict a path, you should begin preparations now and at the very least, expect a windy and rainy day on Sunday, with a very real possibility of a hurricane or strong tropical storm.

My staff participated in a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg this morning and the City is fully preparing for whatever weather we may experience. The Community Emergency Response Team, as well as the American Red Cross are standing by and asking that you prepare a go-bag. If there is an emergency, call 911. My office at 7408 5th Avenue will be staffed from 9 am to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday. Further, I will regularly be updating my Facebook page with any important information.

You can find more information on the City’s Severe Weather Website. If you see any damage it can be reported to 311. In the event the evacuation centers are opened, there are two in our area which are Roosevelt High School and IS 187 but it is unlikely that evacuation will be necessary. Homebound individuals can also call 311 if they need transportation to an evacuation center.

I hope that you have a safe weekend and don’t hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns. My office can be reached at 718-238-6044.