Coastal storms, including nor'easters, tropical storms and hurricanes, can and do affect New York City. It's important New Yorkers take the time to prepare. All residents should have a plan in the event they need to evacuate or ride out the storm at home.
Visit the Know Your Zone website for everything you need to know about hurricanes in New York City.
Learn more from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
Coastal storm-related health and safety tips (NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene)
*If the City issues an evacuation order for your area, do so as directed.* The City will communicate through local media specific instructions about which areas of the city should evacuate. If a mandatory evacuation is issued, do so as directed. Use public transportation if possible, keeping in mind that public transportation may shut down hours before the storm. For additional information about how to evacuate, including transportation options, please contact 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115).
Since flooding and high winds can occur many hours before a hurricane makes landfall, evacuees should leave their homes immediately if instructed to do so by emergency officials. The City strongly recommends evacuees stay with friends or family who live outside evacuation zones. Evacuees should plan their mode of transportation with special care and take the following steps:
If you must go to an evacuation center, it is important to carefully select what you take with you. Do not bring more than you can carry, but be sure to bring your Go Bag with you. Include items that can help protect you and others from COVID-19, including hand sanitizer, and face coverings for each person.*
Evacuation information is subject to change. For the latest information, visit NYC.gov or call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115). Visit the MTA's website at www.mta.info or call 511 for the latest transit information. If you need assistance evacuating during an emergency, please call 311.
When the Mayor has issued an evacuation order due to a coastal storm or hurricane, people with disabilities or other access or functional needs, who have no other options to evacuate safely, can request transportation assistance.
Depending on your need, you will either be taken to:
You may not be able to request transportation to a specific address.
Specific instructions about which areas of the City should be evacuated will be communicated through various channels. If you live or are staying in an evacuation zone and your zone is ordered to evacuate, leave as soon as you can.
Use public transportation to evacuate if possible. When considering your transportation route, be aware that public transportation, including MTA's Access-A-Ride, may shut down hours before the storm arrives.
Residents of high-rise apartment buildings may face special risks from hurricanes even if they live outside evacuation zone boundaries.
If you live in a high-rise building, make sure your windows are closed, stay away from windows in case they break or shatter.
If you live in a basement, you may face additional risks from hurricanes even if you live outside evacuation zone boundaries. Many areas of the city can experience rainfall flooding. If you live in a basement apartment, be prepared to take shelter above ground, and move valuable items from basements to upper floors.
The City strongly recommends evacuees stay with friends or family who live outside evacuation zones. For those who have no other shelter, the City will open evacuation centers throughout the five boroughs.
All evacuees will be accepted, and evacuees will not be asked about their immigration status at any New York City evacuation center or shelter.
Evacuation centers include accessible facilities and accommodations for people with disabilities and access and functional needs.*
To find out the location of your nearest evacuation center, use NYC Emergency Management's Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder.
If you are going to an evacuation center, pack lightly, and bring:
Make sure your disaster plan addresses what you will do with your pet or service animal if a hurricane requires you to leave your home.
If you cannot shelter your pet at a kennel or with friends or relatives outside the evacuation area, pets are allowed at all City evacuation centers. Please bring supplies to care for your pet or service animal, including food, leashes, a carrier, and medication.
Learn more about emergency preparedness for pets
*Information on evacuation centers, including accessibility features, is subject to change. Please visit the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder or contact 311 for information about a particular facility and updated reports on building status and accessibility features.
Watch the video below for information about staying in evacuation centers (presented in American Sign Language).
The City maintains the Coastal Storm Plan, which describes a citywide response to a large-scale coastal storm event, particularly a hurricane. The Coastal Storm Plan includes scalable, standalone plans that describe the various operational strategies needed to respond to the impacts of a coastal storm. These standalone plans outline such operations as Interim Flood Protection Measures (IFPM), evacuation (including healthcare facility evacuation), sheltering, logistics management, donations and volunteer management, commodity distribution, debris management and public information.
The City works closely with the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center to monitor severe weather threats that could affect the five boroughs. The City uses several forms of outreach to alert the public in an emergency, including Notify NYC, the City of New York's official emergency communications program.