The MTA is readying emergency response groups as New York prepares to weather the remnants of Tropic Storm Nicole Friday afternoon.
Nicole, which made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane alongside Florida’s east coast early Thursday, is predicted to deliver heavy downpours and gusty winds to New York City.
The storm has the potential to deliver flooding to components of town in the course of the night commute, and the MTA is trying to get forward of any points which will come up.
“Even for a system that pumps out millions of gallons of water on a dry day, NYC Transit crews were at subway stations Thursday preparing for the heavy rain,” stated New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “We will have crews on standby during the storm to respond quickly to any weather-related issues to make traveling as easy as possible.”
The company is already working to “strategically pre-positioning weather response teams, including track and signal specialists, at key locations to respond to any weather-related events that may occur,” in accordance to a press launch.
The subway system can have two trains in place which are succesful of “high-capacity pumping” in addition to two further trains that can designated for particles cleanup.
Crews are at the moment out inspecting drains in flood-prone areas all through the system, the MTA stated in a launch. New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol additionally requested residents to both assist clear leaves and different particles off of drains or report blocked drains to 311.
CERT volunteers (like Bassabi Bonfoh right here within the Bronx) are cleansing out catch basins forward of #Nicole‘s arrival on Friday. Help forestall flooding by cleansing gutters and drains. If you see a blocked catch basin, report it right here: https://t.co/QDOooxSgk7 pic.twitter.com/xUEngKwjSO
— NYC Emergency Management Commissioner (@NYCEMCommish) November 10, 2022
Similar measures are being taken for the Long Island Rail Road and for Metro-North, with further crews being added by means of the afternoon and in a single day hours.
Both commuter rails can have tools available “to be able to respond quickly as conditions warrant – chainsaws for clearing downed trees, pumps in the event of flooded areas, identifying locations and availability of supplies for replacing damaged utility poles and crossing gates,” the MTA stated.
MTA personnel may also monitor bus routes within the 5 boroughs {that a} recognized to expertise flooding and can have detours ready. Additional bus personnel may also be on standby within the occasion of subway shutdowns.
Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, all empty tractor-trailers and tandem vans had been additionally banned from all seven MTA bridges, together with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and each MTA tunnels – the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.
Beginning at 6PM, empty tractor-trailers & tandem trailers shall be prohibited on all @MTA Bridges due to anticipated excessive winds. Avoid pointless journey.
— NYCEM – Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) November 11, 2022
The ban will final by means of 6 p.m. Saturday. Pedestrian walkways on the Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge into the Rockaways may also be closed throughout that point. Additional pedestrian walkways on different bridges may additionally shut relying on weather circumstances.
Traffic and pace restrictions could possibly be applied all through the storm if mandatory, the company stated.
In a press release, Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested vacationers to “use caution and check local weather conditions before heading out” on Friday and Saturday.
“Starting Friday night, a late-season weather system has the potential to dump three inches or more of rain in some locations, and I urge all New Yorkers to prepare in the event of a flooding situation,” she stated.