see also: ന്യൂയോര്‍ക്ക്‌ നിശ്ചലം; മൂടിക്കെട്ടിയ ആകാശവും പരക്കെ ആശങ്കയും 

http://www.emalayalee.com/varthaFull.php?newsId=3752 

Hurricane Irene Arrives in NYC, Remain Indoors
Hurricane Irene is now affecting New York City, and conditions are expected to deteriorate overnight, with winds reaching 39 miles per hour and higher. A tornado watch is also in effect until 5 AM for the five boroughs.

These conditions make it unsafe to be outside. Residents should stay indoors until weather conditions improve, and take the following steps:

• Move to a room with as few windows as possible and ride out the storm there.
• Move as far away as possible from windows. There is a risk that debris flying about could break and shatter windows in your home.
• Make sure windows and doors leading to the outside are closed.
• If you have a fireplace in your home, close the damper.
• Turn off any propane tanks.

Residents should be prepared for the possibility of power outages. Fill your bathtubs and sinks with water. If you lose power, call 311 or your power provider. Con Ed: 1-800-75-CONED, National Grid: 1-800-465-1212.

If you don't have a flashlight, and decide to use candles, use cautions and never leave candles unattended.

The City has issued a mandatory evacuation order for New Yorkers who live in the low-lying Zone “A” coastal areas across all five boroughs and the Rockaways. These areas include: Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Far Rockaway, Beach Channel, South Beach, Midland Beach, and Battery Park City. People should be out of these areas by 5 pm on Saturday.  

*Use the HURRICANE EVACUATION ZONE FINDER to find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone
*Download a map of the NYC hurricane evacuation zones (PDF)
*Learn about evacuation center changes that are not reflected on the map
*Download evacuation route maps
*Download a list of evacuation centers across the five boroughs (in Excel)

Learn more about hurricanes and NYC
Download Ready New York: Hurricanes and New York City

Nationwide: There were an estimated 9,000 flight cancellations nationwide, with United, Continental and Delta Air Lines canceling thousands of their flights. Air France, British Airways and other international carriers also canceled flights.

Washington: The three airports serving the Washington area remained open Saturday evening, but most flights had been canceled. D.C. Metro is not planning to close early.

Virginia: Mandatory evacuations were ordered for at least 11 localities, among them the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach, a barrier island dotted with rentals, Accomack on the Eastern Shore, and for low-lying areas of Norfolk, Hampton and Portsmouth. 

Maryland: Mandatory evacuations ordered for Ocean City, coastal Worcester County, homes near cliffs in Calvert County. Maryland Transit Administration announced service suspension beginning Saturday evening.

New York: All three of the major airports serving New York City — Newark International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport — shut down for the duration of the storm on Saturday afternoon. Subways have also been halted.

New Jersey: New Jersey Transit trains and buses to shut down.

Pennsylvania: Mass transit serving Philadelphia and its suburbs to halt at 12:30 a.m. Sunday.