NYC Mayor Bloomberg orders nursing home evacuations before Irene hits

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a press conference Thursday ordered eight nursing homes and five hospitals in Zone A low-lying areas to evacuate by 8 p.m. Friday in anticipation of hurricane Irene.

“Our first obligation I want to talk about is to protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers—hospital patients, those in nursing homes and homes for aged and also New Yorkers who because of age or infirmity are homebound,” Bloomberg said.

Zone A neighborhoods include Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn; Far Rockaway and Broad Channel in Queens; South Beach, Midland Beach and other low-lying areas on Staten Island; and Battery Park City in Manhattan.

According to the New York City Office of Emergency Management, the eight nursing homes located in Zone A are: Menorah Home & Hospital for Aged, Saint Joachim and Anne Residence, Sea-Crest Health Care Center, Shorefront Jewish Geriatric Center, Shoreview Nursing Home, West Lawrence Care Center, Oceanview Nursing & Rehab Center, and Brookhaven Rehab and Health Care.