UPDATED: Hoboken mayor announces voluntary evacuation; crated pets allowed at shelter

HOBOKEN — Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer issued a letter to residents on Friday afternoon calling for a voluntary evacuation of the city as Hurricane Irene approaches.

At 3 p.m., she also had a press conference to announce the voluntary evacuation. When asked by the Hoboken Reporter if she foresaw issuing a mandatory evacuation order for low-lying areas, like in New York City, she said she didn’t forsee it at this time (although things can change).

A voluntary evacuation is an evacuation that is recommended but not required. It may be followed later by a mandatory evacuation, or it may simply remain in place as a voluntary evacuation.

According to Suburban Emergency Management Project’s website, it is “an evacuation characterized by a warning to people within a designated area that a threat to life and property exists or is likely to exist in the immediate future.”

Keep watching HudsonReporter.com and follow us on Twitter @HobokenReporter for updates.

Below is part of Zimmer’s letter:

Dear Hoboken Residents,

Hurricane Irene may reach the New York City as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. It is expected to arrive sometime on Saturday evening. If the storm remains at the predicted strength and reaches us at high tide, it could be one of the worst storms our city has ever faced. Very strong winds are forecast, so trees may be uprooted and power outages are very likely. Governor Christie has said that “from a flooding perspective this could be a 100-year event.”
I am extremely concerned about the potential for severe flooding and am calling for a voluntary evacuation. I strongly urge residents to leave Hoboken as soon as possible.
In concert with Police Chief Falco, we are declaring a state of emergency for Hoboken. The City is bringing inside all public trash cans and recycling bins and relocating our vehicles out of the municipal garage.
Please do not underestimate this storm. It is crucial that all residents take this storm very, very seriously. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best has been my philosophy. Here’s what I ask of you:
Shelters: Visit Hobokennj.org for an update on the City’s shelter plan. Hoboken’s shelter at the Wallace School will open on Saturday morning at 9am. Bring blankets, pillows and sleeping bags. Designated bus pickup locations will at 3rd and Jackson, 1st and Bloomfield, 5th and Willow, and 12th and Hudson. Buses will pick up residents at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm and transport them to the Wallace School. We will transport residents by bus to several backup locations that have been set up in Union City. A big thank you to Senator Stack for helping Hoboken. Transportation to shelters will be provided thanks to Superintendent Toback and the Hoboken School Board as well as Academy Bus. Residents that feel they will need to be in a shelter are urged to go before the eye of the storm hits Hoboken on late Saturday night.
Pets: Residents staying at the Wallace School shelter may bring pets along with a crate. Pets must be crated. Please bring enough pet food for three days.

For more, see the city’s website.

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