NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – New York City relocated 1,900 migrants from the tent encampment at Floyd Bennett Field "out of an abundance of caution" Tuesday, as a winter storm threatens to bring damaging wind gusts and flooding rain to the metro area.
In a statement, City Hall confirmed the temporary relocation of the migrants due to the storm, which is expected to be at its most severe Tuesday night into early Wednesday.
In a statement, the mayor's office said, "The health and safety of migrants in our care is always a top priority, which is why we are currently overseeing the relocation of 1,900 guests from the humanitarian emergency response and relief center at Floyd Bennett Field due to an updated forecast with increased wind speeds estimated to be at over 70 mph tonight."
"To be clear," the statement continued, "this relocation is a proactive measure being taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals working and living at the center."
The massive storm could bring 2 to 3 inches of rain to the already soaked New York City area, which was hit by a separate rainstorm over the weekend and has a third rainmaker in the forecast for Friday night. Floyd Bennett Field is fairly exposed to the elements, sitting along the western shore of Jamaica Bay.
The migrants are being transported from the airfield to nearby James Madison High School, according to officials.
"The families are already in the process of being temporarily relocated and will continue to be provided with essential services and support," the mayor's office said. "The relocation will continue until any weather conditions that may arise have stabilized and the facility is once again fit for living. We are actively monitoring the situation and will issue updates as necessary."
The 2,000-bed tent city at Floyd Bennett Field—which opened in November as part of a deal with the federal government—is one of over 200 emergency sites, including 18 large-scale relief centers, that have opened to handle the roughly 165,000 migrants that have come to the city since 2022.
About 70,000 of those migrants are still living in the five boroughs, with around 2,500 to 4,000 more arriving each week from the U.S. southern border, according to the mayor's office.