ALBANY – As Hurricane Sandy continues to work its way up the Eastern seaboard and threatens landfall somewhere along the East Coast of the United States, Congressman Paul Tonko urges residents to take necessary precautions to prepare for this storm. Current estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well as the National Weather Service predict the strongest winds and rain in the Capital Region will occur during the day on Wednesday. However, these are early predictions and will be updated as the storm continues to move closer.

“After the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee just over a year ago, people in our area know that hurricanes don’t just impact those living on the coast,” said Congressman Paul Tonko. “We must take the necessary precautions and steps leading up to the storm to ensure our families, elderly and businesses are prepared for any scenario that may come our way.”  

Five weeks ago, Congressman Tonko joined the Red Cross of Northeastern New York at the Glenville Senior Center to observe National Preparedness Month. The event focused on tools and tips to help get ready for a storm of Hurricane Sandy’s magnitude. Some provisions worth having on hand include a portable radio, fully charged cell phone, extra food that does not require cooking or refrigeration, bottled water, prescription medicines, extra batteries, first-aid supplies and more. For more information on how best to prepare, plan and stay informed, visit http://www.ready.gov/.

For up-to-date information on the storm and forecasts, go to http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#sandy. For local information, visit www.weather.gov.

“I will continue to work with relevant federal, state and local officials to ensure they are receiving the most up-to-date information and taking all the necessary steps to ensure the safety and readiness of our communities and residents. To that end, I have been in regular communication with Governor Cuomo’s administration as well as the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.”  

Updates will be available throughout the weekend on Congressman Tonko’s Facebook and Twitter accounts at http://www.facebook.com/reppaultonko and http://twitter.com/paultonko. 

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