JERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, in conjunction the Office of Emergency Management, has issued a mandatory evacuation of residents for 7 a.m. Monday morning for designated flood zones and low-lying regions due to the anticipated severe flooding associated with Hurricane Sandy.

 Residents in traditional flood zones and low lying areas of the city are urged to relocate to higher ground and or shelter with family and friends as soon as possible prior to the mandatory evacuation Monday morning,  Healy said.  Accordingly, emergency shelters across the city will be open by 8 p.m. (Sunday night) to residents of flood zones who had not already relocated with family.

 “We don’t want residents to wait until it’s too late to get out, so it’s better to relocate with family and or friends as soon as possible right now before the high tide hits,” said Healy from OEM Headquarters. “Come Monday morning, evacuation becomes mandatory in those prone-to-flooding areas and we want to make sure everyone remains safe before the flood hits and the roads are impassable.”

 Designated shelter locations are: Dickinson HS, (2 Palisade Avenue), Public School 4 (107 Bright Street), PS 7 (222 Laid Law Avenue), PS 17 (600 Bergen Avenue), PS 41 (59 Wilkinson Avenue), and Bethune Center (140 MLK Drive). For residents with pets and assistance dogs they are urged to go to the shelter at Pershing Field (201 Central Avenue).

 All schools across the city have been ordered closed for Monday and October 29-30, 2012 as part of the declared State of Emergency. Likewise, Healy and emergency officials have also suspended all parking restrictions (an alternate side parking rules) and trash/recyclables collections until further notice.

 Additionally, beginning at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon officials have ordered that all non-essential motor vehicle traffic stay off the streets and highways to allow emergency vehicle and response teams to combat the effects of the storm. Healy urged all motorists to clear the roadways immediately prior to tomorrow’s mandatory order.

Municipal government will be staffed for essential services and for response to emergencies by the Mayor’s Office, The Mayor’s Action Bureau, Department of Public Works, Municipal Utilities Authority, Parking Authority, Jersey City Incinerator Authority Health and Human Services and Recreation. The Municipal Court is closed.

 Mandatory Evacuations Data

 Effective at 7am on Monday, October 29th, in the following locations in Jersey City:

 • Residents residing in ground floor/1st floor buildings for all streets EAST of Green Street from Essex Street North to Columbus Drive.

 • Residents residing in ground floor/ 1st floor buildings for all streets EAST of Washington Boulevard from Columbus Drive North to 18th Street.

 • Residents residing in ground floor/ 1st floor buildings in Port Liberte.

 • Residents residing in ground floor/ 1st floor buildings in Society Hill and Country Village.

 For more information on Hurricane Irene, maps of designated flood areas, and updates, please continue to visit the city website at www.jerseycitynj.gov and the city Facebook page. All media inquiries should be directed to Stan Eason, Dir. of Communications at 201-547-5808. Or cell-201 376-2788.///