With heavy rain and possible flooding on tap Tuesday night, New York City is opening 51 safe overnight sites at public schools across the five boroughs, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
The locations will open at 8 p.m. Tuesday and remain available “while dangerous conditions persist,” the mayor and New York City Emergency Management said in a news release.
New Yorkers can call 311 or visit on.nyc.gov/SafeLocations to find nearby sites. Service animals and pets will be welcome, the release noted.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the five boroughs until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Significant rain totals of 1 to 3 inches are possible, with localized areas possibly getting more than that. Rain is expected to develop through Tuesday night, with a potential break Wednesday morning before a few heavy downpours return for the Wednesday evening commute.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe begins before the storm arrives,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Tonight’s forecast calls for dangerous conditions, especially for New Yorkers living in a basement apartments and neighborhoods that have flooded before.”
“Our city has been preparing across all five boroughs by clearing catch basins, inspecting flood-prone streets and opening 51 safe overnight locations where people can spend the night out of harm’s way,” he added. “I urge New Yorkers to take this storm seriously: make a plan, sign up for emergency alerts and check in on your neighbors.”