Mayor Mike Spano Declares State of emergency for City of Yonkers

Orders Emergency Precautionary Measures to Protect Residents from Impact of Hurricane "Sandy".

YONKERS, NY – October 26, 2012 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today issued a State of Emergency for the City of Yonkers and has announced several emergency measures that are being taken by the City in preparation for the potentially severe impact of Hurricane Sandy expected to make landfall in the local area, as being forecasted to begin Sunday evening.

“Based on the latest weather information, I am declaring a State of Emergency for the City of Yonkers and announcing several emergency actions to be taken to best prepare and protect the residents of Yonkers should this potentially devastating storm directly impact our area,” said Mayor Spano. “Flood mitigation efforts are being implemented and all emergency personnel have been placed on notice for immediate emergency response.”

The Mayor has ordered the City’s Department of Public Works to make available sand and sand bags for residents in flood prone areas on Saturday and Sunday from 8AM-4PM at the Yonkers Organic Waste Yard located at 610 Nepperhan Avenue. Emergency shelters are being prepared at the Yonkers Police Athletic League facility (127 North Broadway) and Lincoln High School. The City has also cancelled all Office for the Aging programs scheduled for Monday, October 29^th and is suspending alternate side of the street parking Monday as well.

“I strongly advise residents to take all precautionary measures in planning for an emergency situation, especially those with young children and our senior residents. If you or someone you know needs assistance please contact the city immediately,” said Mayor Spano.

Additional information will be announced as further details on the forecasted impact of the storm are released. Residents with questions or concerns should contact the Mayor’s Help Line at (914) 377-HELP (4357). Information is also available on the City’s website www.yonkersny.gov as well as the City’s Facebook and Twitter sites.

Preparing for an Emergency

Items to include in your emergency supplies kit:

• Portable battery-powered radio
• Flashlight (s)
• Extra batteries for all portable electronic devices
• At least 3-day supply of water (1gal. per person per day)
• First-Aid Kit and supplies
• 3-5 day supply of ready to eat non-perishable packaged or canned foods that do not require refrigeration
• Clothing, rain gear, sturdy shoes for all family members
• Extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
• List of family physicians, important medical information,
• Special needs items for infants, the elderly and other family members with special need
• One week supply of essential prescription medications
• Identification, credit cards, copies of important family documents including home and automobile insurance information

Other recommended preparations:

• Have an extra set of car and house keys
• Make sure all vehicles are filled with gas
• Make sure you have cash available, small bills
• Take in or secure patio furniture, garden tools, barbecue grills and propane tanks
• Cut low lying tree branches and clean out gutters

Home Generators:

Any home generator that plugs into your home’s wiring should be connected via a transfer switch by a licensed electrician. This ensures that when it’s in use, house wiring is isolated from utility lines. Improper installation can damage the generators, or create hazards for utility employees working on poles, or even the general public.  Generators should be placed outdoors and away from doors and windows to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide. 

Cleaning up Tree Branches and Storm Debris:

• Take note of overhead lines before cleaning gutters, moving branches, or performing other outdoor clean-up work
• When carrying ladders and long-handled tools, check to make sure you won’t cross overhead lines
• Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away from overhead lines, including lines from the pole to your home
• Assume that all overhead lines are energized, even if you’ve lost power
• Use only non-conductive ladders when working near any overhead power lines

 

Comments

[Better To Be Safe Than Sorry]

Hopefully the Yonkers Department will add the 2 Reserve Engine Companies, 1 Reserve Squad Company and 1 Reserve Ladder Company, as part of the Emergency Preparation Plans for the storm. Given what the Palmer Road area near the Bronxville Border had to endure during Hurricane Irene, they should just have a Reserve Company just post itself along Palmer Road with Pumpling/Bailout Systems.

[LOL]

There is no emergeNcy. This is a farce. How much is this costing the taxpayer in OT?

[Anon]

You'll be the first one yelling for help when mommy's basement starts to flood and all your Playboy mags are at risk. Loser!

[anon]

we cannot play politics in the face of a huge threat
to property and life.....those of you who want to make
everything a partisan issue are dead wrong you can't
solve problems with that attitude and that is why
the next president will be Obama

[Band Together During This Storm]

We "ALL" need to put aside ANY "Political Bull Shit" during this storm. Leaders in at City Hall, The Unions, The Police Department, The Fire Department, The News Sources and ALL Citizens need to check their EGOS at the door, during this storm emergency. IT'S NOT A JOKE and WE ALL NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS STORM

So, I ask EVERYONE who regularly posts on this site and plead to HEZI to comment as well. BE PREPARED, BE SAFE, CONTRIBUTE/VOLUNTEER to assist in this Emergency, if asked upon. Look after the Elderly.

I plead to the OEM of the City of Yonkers. Utilize some of the able citizens of this city to help assist the Fire Department and Police Department to help out. I please to the Fire Department and Police Department. Don't turn away ANY volunteer assistance offered. Forget about the Union Heads getting upset that citizens are volunteering to assist. Again, people please check your egos at the door.

If a citizen can fill up sand bags, work in shelters, help pump out basements, ride along with Fire Department, DPW and Police Personnel to go to affected sites to work (if needed)

God Bless Everyone and Take Care

[doesnt happen often]

wow somebody intelligent on this site

[great post]

Yes. Very refreshing to read someone's post, whose information and comments are intelligent, thoughtful, and careing. Lets hope that people will indeed come out and volunteer and the fire and police depts dont turn them away

[Emergency, smergency !!!]

We have been in a state of emergency from the first day that this simpleton became mayor.

Every day is an ever increasing emergency.

[Still Have Jerks In Yonkers]

There we go, great posts and one idiot comes on here and makes a comment against the Mayor. While I have concerns about Mayor Spano, I think that this poster (Emergency, Smergency) is just as bad of a jerk, if not worse, than the Mayor, for making his/her post.

[A concerned citizen]

God forbid......

But then again, they all serve the same master anyway.

That would be the "Federal Reserve"

You know, the privately owned bank.

[yonkers will be yonkers]

Yes of course applause for the common sense poster.
but it doesn't take much to have common sense except waking up in the morning.
However there is not much common sense left in Yonkers and
that is the problem.
Wake the up Folks! You are being Robbed.

[yonkers will be yonkers]

anyone who doesn't see Yonkers has been ROBBED - has had their head up their ass.
Let's not forget Edelman supported the previous administration right here on this site.

[Still Have Jerks In Yonkers]

This topic has NOTHING to do about politics in our city. It is "SIMPLY" talking about the storm. People who come on here to stir up the pot, pertaining to the Mayor, have picked "THE WRONG" topic to make comments about the Mayor and his staff. Wait until someone comes on the Yonkers Tribune to post a SUBJECT related to city politics. Until then, DON'T BE STUPID, like the selected few posters above, and lets keep the posts against this topic ONLY related to the STORM and EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS.

[Emergency, smergency !!!]

Mikey better prepare for Hurricane "Sandy" Annabi

[Storm Of The Century]

People of the City of Yonkers. This storm is NO JOKE. People like Emergency Smergency should think twice about posting RETARDED COMMENTS. If I had my way, I would LOCK UP this and other individuals who come on today and post such nonsense, just simply for being CITY IDIOTS.

This is a VERY SERIOUS WEATHER SITUATION and everyone (even those idiots who post stupid things on here) need to take proper care to protect themselves, their loved ones and their property.

Again, this is NO JOKE !!!

[What a dick]

It's a blog. We can write what we want. Suck it.

[fraud ester man]

honestly when in your measley life did you ever do anything other than.for political motivation.start from the beginning get a paper route .. collect get tips and then you can say i did an honest days work and did not suckle the political tit for once in my life. fool

[threesideston truth]

The best thing people can do is get out of the low lying areas and go to relatives for a few days if possible. Most resources seem to go to the same area every time we get a storm of some magnitue.
This will free up emergency crews for other areas that usually dont flood, especially for rescues. It has to be hard though, leaving your house to the elements, like home abandonment.

[Sand bag]

Nah, the best thing we can do is to use our political leaders as sand bags to prevent Clunie Ave from going under AGAIN!!!

I wonder where the Queen of Zamunda will be.

After all, she has made such great progress with the flooding issues of Clunie..........NOT!

What a POS........

[Anon]

Who is Queen of Zamunda?

[Emergency, smergency !!!]

How's that fat fu-k Nick Spano doing in federal Prison, where he belongs