The following was sent to YWN by the Achiezer Organization:

At this point there is a mandatory evacuation for the entire Far Rockaway/Bayswater area. That means that anyone in the 11691 zip code is officially REQUIRED to evacuate. Additionally, there is now a mandatory evacuation for all Nassau County flood zones. This includes the entire Inwood, Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere and Hewlett communities. While it is not our job or mandate to enforce this evacuation, we strongly urge everyone to follow these orders.

The nearest available open shelter to Far Rockaway is at the John Adams High School located at 101-01 Rockaway Boulevard, Ozone Park, New York. Additionally, as of 7pm there will be an exclusive kosher shelter which will be open for this storm at 400 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, New York.

ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED RESIDENTS

Our number one priority and the most important item of this email is the safe evacuation of any wheelchair bound, bed bound, or oxygen/machine dependent patients. Again, we are not telling people what they should/should not do however LIPA representatives were at our office advising that there is a probable expectation of a loss of power which can last from 3 days up to a week. It is for that reason that we are working to transport any of these persons out of the neighborhood as soon as possible. Hatzolah’s resources will be utilized for true emergencies only. If you know of any relative, neighbor, friend that may require these services, please call our hotline as soon as possible – 516-791-4444.

We would like to stress that once the storm begins, all emergency/transportation resources will be extremely limited. If you think you will be making this kind of evacuation, please do so now.

We have now been told that by 4pm the 878 will not be accepting any inbound traffic to the Five Towns. All lanes will be outbound only. Additionally, the Atlantic Beach and Marine Park Bridges will likely be closed after 7pm tonight.

We will try to send out a current update as of 6pm and we will keep any important information forthcoming.

As of now we have been advised that EVERY school in the Far Rockaway/Five Towns area have canceled school for tomorrow.

PLEASE CALL YOUR SPECIFIC SCHOOL HOTLINES TO CONFIRM.

If you have any concerns or questions or any issues whatsoever, our hotline will be manned 24 hours a day and the number is 516-791-4444.

This message has been prepared in conjunction with Achiezer, Hatzolah, NYC OEM, Nassau County OEM, LIPA, RCSP and the office of Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder.

(YWN Desk – NYC)