New York City divides its coastline into hurricane evacuation zones, numbered from 1 (highest risk) to 6. Several low-lying Brooklyn areas, including parts of Coney Island, Red Hook, Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach and Canarsie, are in coastal zones, and heavy rain can flood basements and streets in many other places. You can look up your zone on the city’s Know Your Zone tool.
Sign up for Notify NYC, the free official alert system, to get emergency messages by text, e-mail or phone, in many languages. Keep a go-bag with documents, medicines, water, a flashlight, chargers and some cash, and agree on a meeting place with your household.
In summer, heat is the deadliest weather risk in the city. Look for the city’s cooling centres, drink water, check on elderly neighbours and use air conditioning if you have it. In winter, landlords are required to provide heat during the official heat season, which runs from October through May.