City residents planning to travel Sunday by bus or subway should try to get to their destinations by nightfall, or else stay home.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered transit officials to wind down subway and rail service starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, according to WNYC.
"Starting at 7 p.m. today, service on the LIRR will be suspended system-wide in advance of Hurricane Sandy making landfall for the safety of our customers, employees and to protect our equipment," according to a Long Island Rail Road statement. "Customers are urged not to wait for the last trains when making their travel plans."
At a press conference at the Office of Emergency Management in Downtown Brooklyn on Saturday, New York City officials said that potential storm surge from Sandy was of greatest concern—particularly in Lower Manhattan where two electrical substations are located.
Con Edison chairman and CEO Kevin Burke said the utility was keeping a close eye on the surge, which could be 4 to 8 feet above average tide on Monday night through Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the forecast track for Sandy was to hit Maryland or Delaware, which could spare the city from the worst effects of the storm.
Here are some other highlights from Saturday's conference:
- No mandatory evacuations ordered.
- City to open 65 shelters at 9 a.m. Sunday. They will provide shelter, meals and space for pets.
- Sanitation pickups to proceed as normal on Monday.
- East River ferry landings will close starting Saturday night.
- All events in city parks occurring after 2 p.m. Sunday are cancelled.
- All city parks will close at 5 p.m. Sunday.
- Decision on school closures to be made on Sunday.
