Outdated posts left some residents confused during Superstorm Sandy
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder and the city Office of Emergency Management have successfully convinced the Department of Transportation to update evacuation signage in South Queens to properly lead residents to emergency shelters.
There are signs that South Queens will soon be getting a safer evacuation route.
That is according to Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park), who announced on Monday that the city has agreed to update its emergency evacuation signage that will properly lead residents of South Queens and the Rockaways to the correct routes in the event of an emergency.
“This change to our emergency evacuation signage will properly inform and ensure the safety of thousands of families in southern Queens and Rockaway in the event of future emergencies,” Goldfeder said in a statement. “I thank [Office of Emergency Management] Commissioner Joe Esposito for his amazing dedication to our public safety and quick response to this important request.”
The change comes after Goldfeder in May requested the Department of Transportation update the signs because it led residents to Aqueduct Racetrack in the event of an emergency, even though the designated site was John Adams High School.
The OEM also asked the DOT to update the signage. The DOT is expected to complete the work by the end of the summer.
“Every New Yorker should know whether they live in a hurricane evacuation zone, and if so, have a plan for what to do if you are ordered to evacuate your home,” Esposito said in a statement. “Visitnyc.gov/KnowYourZone to find out whether you live in a hurricane evacuation zone and to get preparedness information and directions to your nearest evacuation center.”
The evacuation site for South Queens residents was Aqueduct Racetrack before the construction of Resorts World Casino. After the casino was put up, residents were instructed to go to the high school.
The outdated signage caused mass confusion during Superstorm Sandy, and some residents fled to the racetrack to seek emergency shelter.
Goldfeder said the new signs are a proactive step to helping those in flood-prone areas.
“Having these new signs in place ahead of the next hurricane season will ensure our families know the way to safety well before the next emergency hits,” he added. “We need to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to emergency preparedness.”
A DOT spokeswoman said in an email “DOT works closely with OEM on emergency evacuation route signage and we will install updated signs as directed.”
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