Evacuation Guide

New York, New York Evacuation Routes

Plan your escape with optimized routes and safe zones

Threat Assessment

Hurricane

NYC is vulnerable to hurricane storm surge, as demonstrated by Sandy (2012). Flood Zone A includes lower Manhattan, Red Hook, and the Rockaways. Category 3+ hurricane would be catastrophic.

Coastal Flood

Sea level rise is increasing flood frequency. Nor'easters and tropical systems bring storm surge. NYC flood maps expanding. Subway system especially vulnerable to flooding.

Nor'easter

Powerful winter storms bring heavy snow, coastal flooding, and wind. Can paralyze transportation for days. Blizzard of 2016 dropped 27 inches on Central Park.

Infrastructure Failure

Aging infrastructure vulnerable to cascading failures. 2003 blackout affected 55 million people. Water main breaks, steam pipe explosions, and subway failures are ongoing risks.

Evacuation Routes

I-95 North via George Washington Bridge

primary

Primary northern evacuation via the George Washington Bridge to I-95 North. Access to Westchester, Connecticut, and New England.

85 miles to New Haven, CT1.5 hours (normal), 5-8 hours (evacuation)

George Washington Bridge is the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge - extreme congestion during evacuation

Cross Bronx Expressway is always congested, worse during emergencies

Hurricane

Coastal Flood

Infrastructure Failure

I-87 North (Major Deegan) to Upstate

primary

Northern evacuation via I-87 (Major Deegan Expressway) to the New York State Thruway heading toward Albany.

75 miles to Newburgh1.5 hours (normal), 4-6 hours (evacuation)

Major Deegan through the Bronx is congested in all conditions

Tappan Zee Bridge (Mario Cuomo Bridge) can close in high winds

Hurricane

Nor'easter

Civil Unrest

Lincoln Tunnel / NJ Turnpike South

secondary

Western evacuation through Lincoln Tunnel to NJ Turnpike heading south toward Philadelphia.

95 miles to Philadelphia2 hours (normal), 5-8 hours (evacuation)

Lincoln Tunnel has 3 tubes - may close during flooding or security events

Holland Tunnel alternate but floods during hurricanes (Sandy)

Coastal Flood

Nor'easter

Infrastructure Failure

I-278 East (Brooklyn) to Long Island

secondary

Eastern evacuation via I-278 through Brooklyn to the Long Island Expressway. Access to suburban Long Island communities.

60 miles to Riverhead1.5 hours (normal), 4-6 hours (evacuation)

NOT RECOMMENDED for hurricane - Long Island is in the storm path

BQE (I-278) is narrow and always congested

Civil Unrest

Infrastructure Failure

Pandemic

Manhattan Bridge / Brooklyn Bridge Walk

foot

On-foot evacuation from Lower Manhattan across the Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn. Critical when tunnels and vehicle bridges are gridlocked.

5 miles to Prospect Park1.5-2.5 hours on foot

Brooklyn Bridge walkway gets extremely crowded during evacuations (2003 blackout precedent)

Manhattan Bridge has a wider pedestrian path - often less crowded

Vehicle Unavailable

Bridge/Tunnel Vehicle Closure

Grid Down

Coastal Flood

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Safe Zones & Rally Points

Javits Center (Emergency Shelter)

shelter • Capacity: 20,000

NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia (CUMC)

hospital • Capacity: 862

NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell

hospital • Capacity: 862

Bellevue Hospital Center

hospital • Capacity: 844

Mount Sinai Hospital

hospital • Capacity: 1,171

Central Park (Great Lawn Rally Point)

rally point

Prospect Park (Brooklyn)

rally point

FDNY Engine 10 / Ladder 10 (Near WTC)

fire station

JFK International Airport (Emergency Staging)

resource

Barclays Center

shelter • Capacity: 19,000

Food Bank for New York City (Warehouse)

resource

Randall's Island

rally point

Fort Greene Park

rally point

NYC Emergency Management HQ (Brooklyn)

resource

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