STATEN ISLAND, NY – Two days after the remains of Hurricane Ida devastated Staten Island and surrounding counties, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city will change the way it warns residents of impending storms, especially if the forecast heavy rains there.
NYC’s climate-induced rain response will better prepare city officials and residents for what the mayor described as “shocking and unprecedented rains.”
Ida poured off over 20 cm of water in some areas of Staten Island. Motorists across the island have had to leave their cars and swim to safety or be rescued by first responders and good Samaritans. Many basements have been flooded and some people have been driven from their homes by rushing water.
“We are now dealing with something unimaginable. Events that only happen once in a century are now happening regularly, but bluntly they are getting worse. We need to change our actions across the board; we need to change the way we think, ”said de Blasio.
Ida claimed the lives of 13 New York City residents. No deaths have been reported on Staten Island.
NYC’s climate-induced rain response will focus on new warnings, residents living in basement apartments, and a 30-day extreme weather task force that will publish a report on how the city is doing in the week of September 26th, Climate Week can get better prepare.
Previously used for snow emergencies, the mayor said the city will apply travel bans “much more frequently” when heavy rains are forecast. Warnings that a travel ban might be introduced are issued 24 to 48 hours in advance so residents can prepare.
“It’s a completely different approach, but one that we have to put on the table. We will get very forceful when we see that there will be some kind of escalation, ”he said.
Also taking a different approach, he said that evacuations of residents living in basement and low-lying apartments could take place. First responders go door to door to help with the evacuation instead of telling people to leave.
“We will speak to people with specific messages, specific cell phone warnings, to let people know about the challenges they will face in such events and let people know that we are planning an evacuation.” [them] in advance, ”he said.
“We’re going to have to work on the long-term policy, which will take years, but we have to start now,” he said.
PERSONAL DISASTER CENTERS
Emergency Management Commissioner John Scrivani said personal disaster relief centers will be set up in each district by the end of Tuesday.
In cooperation with the social welfare office, the aid centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and offer those in need a variety of resources.
“We work around the clock to make sure people have the resources they need,” said Scrivani.
President Joe Biden signed a declaration of emergency for New York and New Jersey on Thursday evening.
The statement will provide much-needed federal assistance from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the aftermath of the catastrophic storm.
In New York, the Emergency Declaration enables FEMA to provide disaster relief Efforts to cover the following counties: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.
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