NYC Evacuation Zones: Hurricane Sandy Update; New York City Schools and Transit to Close (Map, Video)

The eastern seaboard of the U.S. is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.

Evacuations in New York City were ordered on Sunday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as Sandy closes in on the region.

During a press conference, Mayor Bloomberg talked about the evacuation plans saying, "The measures are aimed at keeping residents safe and not endangering the lives of emergency services personnel."

New York City schools will be closed on Monday. It was also announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo that the public transportation system would close in the city Sunday evening, according to Fox News. The Subway will shut down from 7 p.m. with bus routes also closing down.

"You don't want to be overly panicked and overly prepared, but you want to be prudent, you want to do what's necessary," said Gov. Cuomo.

Rainfall is expected to begin late Sunday or early Monday in New York City.

Low-lying areas for Zone A evacuations show the Rockaways, Hamilton Beach and City Island affected, as they are presumed to have the greatest impact from the storm as they're prone to flooding. Areas of Lower Manhattan are also affected by the evacuations.

The National Hurricane Center warned on Sunday: "Sandy expected to bring life-threatening storm surge flooding to the mid-Atlantic coast...including Long Island sound and New York harbor...winds forecast to be near hurricane force at landfall."

Hurricane Sandy was headed north from the Caribbean to meet both a snowstorm and a cold front. So far the death toll from Hurricane Sandy moving through the Caribbean is 65 people dead.

Louis Uccellini, head of environmental prediction for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, warned, "We're looking at impact of greater than 50 to 60 million people."

Sandy remains a Category 2 hurricane after being upgraded when it struck Jamaica. The storm is expected to transform into a post-tropical cyclone and NHC is updating the status of the hurricane as it makes the transition.

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