City Issues New Evac Zones

Last week, the city released updated flood and evacuation zone maps for Manhattan, changing from the previous system that categorized addresses as A, B or C evacuation zones to a numbered system from 1 through 6. The new, more nuanced map makes more distinctions and includes new areas that were previously not mapped as flood evacuation zones. Following Hurricane Sandy last year, the city was criticized for not ordering the evacuations of some areas that subsequently received massive and destructive flooding and damage.

Much of downtown below 14th Street is included in one of the 6 zones, with all areas directly bordering the rivers classified in Zone 1. The evacuation center for downtown is the former Seward Park High School building at 350 Grand Street.