NY is strong and resilient

please be safe my NY friends, as well as anyone else in Sandy's wake.

New York have courage, resilience and humor, Goodbye #Sandy.  no singing in the Subway today, hope to be back as soon as possible singing to help sooth our wind, hurricane battered beings.

Get updates on MTA website

Public Schools, Broadway, Stock Exchange To Be Closed Tuesday

By: NY1 News

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Monday morning that city public and charter schools will be closed a second day on Tuesday.

The city schools were already closed for Monday in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy.

All schools run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York will also be closed on Tuesday.

This comes as the Port Authority shut down LaGuardia Airport at 7:15 p.m. Monday due to nearby flooding. The other airports are open but no flights are entering or leaving.

The Port Authority has shut down all PATH train service, suspended bus service out of Port Authority Terminal in Midtown and closed the Port of New York and New Jersey.

The city Department of Transportation, Port Authority and Metropolitan Transportation Authority closed most of the city's major bridges and some major roadways.

First, the Hugh Carey (Brooklyn Battery) and Holland Tunnels closed at 2 p.m. Monday.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the Bayonne Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing and Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge were closed.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive between the Battery and 155th Street. closed at 6 p.m. Monday, and the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge in Queens also closed to traffic.

At 7 p.m. Monday, 11 city bridges closed to traffic: 
• Brooklyn Bridge
• Manhattan Bridge
• Williamsburg Bridge
• Ed Koch Queensboro Bridges
• Throgs Neck Bridge
• Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
• Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
• Henry Hudson Bridge
• Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge
• George Washington Bridge

Officials plan to keep the Robert F. Kennedy/Triborough Bridge for as long as possible.

Emergency vehicles will still have access to these bridges and roadways.

DOT officials also suspended alternate-side parking through Tuesday.

Meanwhile, bus, subway and train service were suspended Sunday night and are expected to remain closed until 12 hours after the end of the storm, or likely Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and Staten Island Railway shut down their systems in preparation for Sandy.

National Guard troops are being deployed across the state, with 200 in New York City.

New Jersey Transit has also shut down all bus, light rail and train service and New York Waterway Ferry and Bus service is also suspended.

All Amtrak Northeast Corridor service is suspended Monday and Tuesday.

New York Stock Exchange announced that it will also be shut down on Tuesday. The physical stock exchange is within New York City's Zone A, which underwent mandatory evacuations.

All Broadway theaters went dark for Monday, and they have also canceled their Tuesday night performances. Telecharge, Ticketmaster and theater box offices are offering refunds and exchanges.

The Food Bank For New York City is still making deliveries to 100 charity groups, but the organization's community kitchen closed at 2 p.m. Monday after serving over 1,500 meals and 150 emergency food packs.

All film permits for Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday were revoked by city officials.

The U.S. Postal Service is making deliveries and closing post offices on a case-by-case basis.

There will be no Monday trash pick-ups in Zone A areas and everywhere else will be on a case-by-case basis, according to OEM officials.

Calm After The Storm

It's a lovely, clear crisp morning

not a cloud in the sky

Irene washed through the Hudson Valley staying a little over 24 hours

The rains came Saturday night 12:05 am

We already knew from friends in NYC 2 hours south what was coming our way.

The image of empty NYC streets, of evacuated residents of a shutdown city, strange.

 

By daybreak, rain

by midday, rain

by afternoon, rain

Steady, heavy 

by then NYC was clear 

and we were in a washing machine surrounded by trees

at least safer on higher ground from flooding

we never lost power. no downed trees, never had to evacuate to the basement

Fortunate we were.

 

The wind by 4pm in all directions whipped rain like snow

pups loved it, a lucky break

I danced on our outdoor table safely tucked into the corner of the living room

defiant, feeling like a kid

hurricanes can bring gifts

 

Irene by 1 am Monday, over

No wind, no rain

Just the twinkle twinkle of stars above unaware

of the torrent and devastation here on earth

Chorus of un-drowned crickets and other singing "things"

filled the cleaned night air

Rushing water in nearby stream loud

like a freight train with 1000's of rattling cars on a trip to far away.

 

Others were not so lucky as we were and I wish them well in returning to right. 

Be careful when traveling.

 

I'm looking forward to returning to the subway to perform soon.

 

 

calm before storm

I'm writing this in upstate NY unsure where and when hurricane Irene will hit.  Outdoor furniture is in, sinks are full of water and batteries are charged. I am thankful to not be in NYC and hope the storm brings only good things brought by so much preparation, information and thoughtful communication in anticipation of a potential major disaster. In all my years I have never heard of shutting down the subway systems due to a natural event, but know our infrastruture is overwhelmed by even a minor storm, so the decision is certainly prudent. I commend the intense work of evacuating and sheltering of people including allowing animals in shelters-bravo NY!

Wow imagine if we could put this same energy and care into how to be more productive, efficient and community focused citizens.

Having lived in Key West I'm no stranger to hurricanes (I was stuck in Andrew) and tropical storms can be just as devastating. They move fast and when it's over if nothing happens, a sort of cry wolf attitude can set in. To be sure it's better to be safe than sorry, evacuate if possible and if not hunker down. So stay safe from flying debris my fellow commuters and see you post Irene. And thanks to all my fans and friends far and wide checking in with good wishes.

Cathy

PS I do hope that when all the wind and water subsides, we'll realize that even in tough economic times, rebuilding and maintaining our infrastructure is essential and forward thinking.