On the other coast today, Hurricane Irene prompted mandatory evacuations along coastal areas in New York City. This includes Brooklyn's Coney Island and Manhattan Beach, Broad Channel in Queens, South Beach, Midland Beach, areas on Staten Island, and Manhattan's Battery Park City.

Mayor Bloomberg asked that all residents be out by 5 p.m. on Saturday, saying, "If you can leave today, that would be helpful...At the moment the strongest winds are expected to arrive in the early evening tomorrow. It is expected to be a category 1 storm. The full brunt of the storm—if you are in its way—is a lot more powerful than any of us."

According to Gothamist, that's an estimated 250,000 people.