With each report, the number of lives lost to Hurricane Sandy rises. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced shortly after 1 p.m. that 41 residents died in the storm.
As the search and rescue missions carry on, the number of fatalities may continue to rose, Bloomberg said.
More than 5,000 residents remain in the evacuation centers throughout the city that were consolidated from the 76 open during the storm.
The Queens centers still open are Hillcrest High School, Queens College and York College.
Food and water will continue to be distributed in areas hardest hit by the storm between 1-5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Queens locations are:
- Beach 51st Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard
- Red Fern Avenue and Beach 12th Street
- Beach 84th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Residents are asked to bring their own bags if possible and are allowed three meals and five bottles of water. Residents of Breezy Point should drink only bottled water, tap water should not be consumed.
Con Ed is also distributing dry and wet ice at 121-10 Rockaway Boulevard.
Some other updates from the Bloomberg press conference:
- The three-passenger restriction for driving into Manhattan will end at 5 p.m. today.
- The Holland Tunnel is open on a limited basis for commercial vehicles and buses.
- East River Ferry service resumed yesterday and the Staten Island Ferry will be running a full schedule tomorrow.
- A majority of parks and playgrounds will open this weekend.
- A disaster assistance service center has opened at MCU Park at 1904 Surf Avenue in Coney Island.
