Mayor Bloomberg Announces Evacuations in NYC

Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered an evacuation by 5 p.m. Saturday for low-lying areas that house about 270,000 people. Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said subways, buses and commuter trains in the city, on Long Island and in the northern suburbs will begin their final runs around noon Saturday.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials have said they can’t run the transit system once sustained winds reach 39 mph, and they need an eight-hour lead time to shut it down. Officials have entreated residents to take it upon themselves to get out early, but it remained unclear how many would heed the warnings that subways and buses might not be there for them if they waited.

Meanwhile, shelters were set to open and other preparations continued as the nation’s biggest city faced the likelihood of its first hurricane warning since 1985. A hurricane watch was in effect Friday for New York City and Long Island for Sunday, with storm conditions possible Saturday night.

There have already been cancellations at the U.S. Open Tennis which had hoped to put on their annual Kid's Day on Saturday, but that is now off.  Also the Mets were due to play the Atlanta Braves in a 3-game series, but Saturday and Sunday's games have been postponed.