NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Mayor Bill de Blasio has declared a State of Emergency for New York City as Hurricane Henri approaches.
The Category 1 storm is expected to make landfall on the east end of Suffolk County Sunday morning, but its intense rainfall and 80-mph winds are expected to inundate the region, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo warning of Hurricane Sandy-level destruction.
While Henri is not expected to make landfall on New York City, de Blasio urged residents to take the storm seriously and keep indoors Sunday if possible. The city remains under a Tropical Storm Watch.
“Stay off the roads, stay indoors — there's going to be heavy winds, lots of rain. we could definitely be seeing some trees falling down, we need people to be safe," de Blasio said during a briefing Saturday afternoon.
The mayor’s declaration follows one from Cuomo earlier Saturday. New York City is under a Tropical Storm Watch, according to the National Weather Service.
Utility companies are warning of severe damage and up top weeks of power outages in areas like Long Island and Connecticut. De Blasio warned the city could face intermittent outages as well.
The city expects as much as 6 inches of rain with 3-5 feet of coastal flooding in Northern Queens and the Bronx. Winds could hit 25-30 mph with gusts up to 45-50 mph on Sunday, according to de Blasio.
Outdoor dining is banned Sunday according to the mayor.
"Take time now. change your plans for tomorrow if you have to. Prepare if your [in] some place prone to flooding," de Blasio said.
Related
Related
