Mayor orders mandatory evacuation of the Rockaways

The mayor announced a mandatory evacuation for the Rockaways in advance of Hurricane Irene reaching Queens.
“The sun is shining but don’t be misled. There is a very dangerous storm heading in our direction,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
The mayor announced the evacuations should be done by 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Ninety one emergency centers will be open at 4 p.m. on Friday.
While not evacuating is technically against the law, the mayor said, “Nobody’s is going to get fined, nobody is going to jail, but people might die [if they don’t evacuate].”
Hospitals, nursing home and senior homes have already been evacuated in the low-lying areas of the city.