(Yahoo News)
As Hurricane Sandy approaches, our staff is out in the city, reporting on preparations and the storm's impact. This post will remain open and updated with the latest.
[10:50 a.m.] MTA shutting down subways, buses and trains starting at 7 p.m. Sunday
[11:30 a.m.] Mayor Bloomberg calls for evacuation of low-lying areas, closes schools Monday.
[2:45 p.m.] Broadway performances canceled Sunday and Monday.
[6:04 p.m.] As Sandy nears, galleries cancel openings.
[6:27 p.m.] The Reanimation Library, yards from the Gowanus Canal, evacuates its collection for the second hurricane in little more than a year.
[6:40 p.m.] Dan D'Addario investigates where you should drink tonight.
[6:41 p.m.] Mayor’s Office and Google team to create crisis map.
[6:44 p.m.] Ahead of Sandy, Obama and Romney request red cross contributions.
[7:01 p.m] New York Stock Exchange to open, electronically, in spite of Sandy.
[7:04 p.m.] As the storm surge threatens, paywalls recede at the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, reports Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke.
[7:07 p.m.] Grand Central Terminal is locked shortly after the last train departure.
[7:13 p.m.]Mandatory Hurricane Sandy evacuations include Zone A, Hoboken and Stamford.
[7:29 p.m.] President Obama signs New York emergency declaration.
[7:29 p.m.] Jessica Roy surveys Dumbo as the neighborhood prepares.
[8:27 p.m.] Michael H. Miller drops by the last subway still open on the Upper East Side, the Subway Inn, where they're waiting for something really bad to happen.
[9:07 p.m.]The Observer's Hunter Walker reports via Twitter that the Gowanus Canal is already beginning to flood at Second Street.
[9:13 p.m.] With mass transit closed and dangerous storm surges set to wallop the city, New York startups aren’t messing around when it comes to hurricane prep. Most, like Useablenet, Kickstarter, HowAboutWe and SideTour, are urging employees to work from home due to the closure of the MTA system. More at Betabeat.
[10:05 p.m.] Because knowing what Lindsay Lohan thinks about our view of Hurricane Sandy is a vital burning question, here's some comic relief:
WHY is everyone in SUCH a panic about hurricane (i'm calling it Sally)..? Stop projecting negativity! Think positive and pray for peace.
— Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) October 29, 2012
That should do the trick.
[10:14 p.m.] Jezebel founder Anna Holmes tweets from Gantry Park around 9 p.m. that the waters are on the rise:
Ok. Gantry Park on the river. Water level almost up to piers. Usually 4-5 feet lower. twitter.com/AnnaHolmes/sta…
— Anna Holmes (@AnnaHolmes) October 29, 2012
[10:28 p.m.] Governor Andrew Cuomo's office has issued a tentative schedule for Monday. In addition to morning press events, the governor plans to deploy the New York National Guard beginning at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Writing for Betabeat, Myles Tanzer reports on how Hurricane Sandy has seriously rained on the New York tech startup's party parade this weekend.
MTAphotos/Flickr
[10:50 p.m.] Citing an unnamed source, Reuters reports via its Twitter account that U.S. stock markets may be closed on Tuesday, due to "concerns about market integrity." The markets were already slated to close on Monday, with trading taking place only on the electronic exchange. It now appears even electronic trading may be halted through Tuesday.
In a different vein--the MTA's Flickr account has been updated with new photos of empty stations. The images are a haunting portrait of a city standing still.
[11:42 p.m.] The center of Hurricane Sandy is about 475 miles southeast of New York and according to CNN, recent reports from hurricane hunting aircraft indicate the storm is strengthening. It has sustained winds of 75 m.p.h. and has re-developed an eyewall.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29
[12:32 a.m.] The Gowanus Canal is beginning to rise. Hunter Walker goes inside the evacuation zone to report on those who have decided to stay in spite of the rising waters.
[6:32 a.m.] First rain coming down in Park Slope, Brooklyn.