Lawmakers coordinate with constituents, FEMA as Irene nears East Coast cities

Area lawmakers are keeping in close contact with emergency services and constituents in preparation for Hurricane Irene as a state of emergency is declared in six states along the Eastern seaboard.
 
On Thursday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered a mandatory evacuation of hospitals, nursing homes and senior centers in zones at risk of heavy storm damage.
 
{mosads}“We were just notified that the storm has shifted west and New York City will be affected more than expected,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), whose sixth district is within the emergency evacuation zone.
 
According to Meeks, the city will make a decision by 8 a.m. Saturday morning about whether to order a mandatory evacuation of the area for the general public.
 
“Our office is working closely with local and federal officials to ensure that we are properly prepared before, during and in the aftermath of the storm,” he added.
 
Meeks is just one of the New York lawmakers coordinating with FEMA to ensure constituents remain safe throughout the storm.
 
“My staff and I are working closely with FEMA, New York State and New York City officials on preparedness and emergency procedures, and we are constantly monitoring the course and strength of Hurricane Irene,” Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) said in a statement.
 
Grimm’s office has been reaching out to press and constituents prior to the storm, and has posted emergency contact information and preparedness guidelines on the congressman’s website and Facebook page, said his communications director, Carol Danko.
 
Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) is also preparing his 10th district for the storm.
 
“We have been apprised and been involved in meetings that have been held to make sure our constituents are up to date and prepared and know what to do,” said Towns’s spokesman, Julian Phillips.
 
“We’re waiting for the city officials to tell us — the Office of Emergency and Preparedness — exactly what to do in terms of notifying our people,” he added. “Right now we’re just waiting to see exactly how this hurricane is going to hit, and where.”
 
Government officials are warning residents in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland to take precautions for the hurricane, which churned across the Bahamas Thursday with recorded winds of 115 mph.
 
Spokespeople for House members in those states — including Reps. Scott Rigell (R-Va.), Jon Runyan (R-N.J.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) — reported lawmakers advising constituents of emergency contact information via their websites, email and social media.
 
Rigell “is fully engaged on this and he and our staff are ready to help however we can,” wrote spokeswoman Kim Mosser in an email.
 
But, she added, it is vital that emergency services be able to do their jobs unimpeded.
 
“Evacuations and emergency services are being coordinated at the state and local level, and we stand ready to assist,” Mosser wrote. “It’s important that we don’t get in the way of their efforts though. They are the leads here, and we must fully respect that. We’ve been in touch with all of them to let them know how to reach us and the Congressman day or night, weekend or weekday, district or Washington. If we can help, we will.”
 
As both residents and lawmakers prepare for a storm the likes of which the region has not seen in decades, Rep. Tim Bishop’s (D-N.Y.) office summed up the strategy best.
 
“Hope for the best but prepare for the worst,” said spokesman Oliver Longwell.