On July 25th (Tuesday), the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) collaborated with the New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) and the New York City Parks Department to hold an immigrant media roundtable meeting to discuss the city government’s plans for disaster prevention during the summer and water safety matters.
Director Manuel Castro of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs in New York City stated that 40% of New York City’s population is composed of immigrants, born outside of the United States. When including the children of these immigrants, they make up 60% of the total population of New York City. Therefore, it is of great importance to provide these immigrants with relevant risk information through media outlets catering to various ethnic groups.
The current summer season is experiencing peak temperatures, with this summer being one of the hottest months on record in New York. Zach Iscol, Director of the New York City Emergency Management, mentioned that globally, consecutive months have broken records for high temperatures. It is important to note that rising temperatures lead to increased ocean temperatures and a greater risk of major hurricanes and flooding disasters. The National Weather Service and the Hurricane Center have predicted above-average hurricane activity for this year’s hurricane season.
Iscol shared New York City’s hurricane response measures, including the establishment of 6 hurricane evacuation zones. Residents can visit the New York City Emergency Management announcement (link: https://tinyurl.com/mtdbjex3) and use the “Hurricane Evacuation Zone Map” to determine their evacuation zone. Alternatively, they can access the link: https://maps.nyc.gov/hurricane/
Iscol reminded everyone to register with Notify NYC to receive timely hurricane information. The website provides corresponding resources to assist residents in developing personal or family emergency plans.
In the event of a hurricane strike, the New York City government will conduct large-scale evacuation operations, providing services including community support, hospitals, nursing homes, and residential areas. The government will also provide shelter locations to ensure that residents have a temporary place to stay.
Iscol recommended that New York City families tailor their plans according to their specific circumstances. Those with special medication needs or pets should make preparations in advance.
Furthermore, New York experienced a rare shark attack incident last year. Sue Donoghue, Director of the New York City Parks Department, mentioned in the roundtable meeting that although shark attacks are extremely rare, the city government has established a detailed shark monitoring protocol this year. They have collaborated with multiple agencies, and an important new technological measure introduced is the use of drones for surveillance. Drones will continuously monitor shark activity from 9 am to 9 pm daily, identifying and tracking shark movements.
Once a shark is spotted along the coast, a series of procedures will be initiated. The beach within a one-mile radius of the sighting will be closed for an hour to continue monitoring the shark’s location and movement, while ground personnel will communicate relevant information to beach visitors.
These safety measures are not only applicable to Rockaway Beach in Queens but to all beaches in New York City.