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 Molinet
For more storm coverage, follow our WEATHER and HURRICANE groups.
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