New Yorkers are battening the hatches as Hurricane Irene bounds up the East Coast.
Mayor Bloomberg Friday ordered a mandatory evacuation for all residents of low-lying Zone A areas, and Far Rockaways, and the transit authority shut down all operations at noon Saturday. In advance of the storm, stores boarded up, lobbies gathered sand bags, volunteers organized evacuation centers, and residents stocked up on water, food (and plenty of alcohol).
The storm is expected to hit the city in earnest late Saturday or early Sunday, and New Yorkers were advised to keep off the roads and streets and stay indoors. Some eerie images have come out of this oncoming storm, as massive commuter sections like Grand Central are left completely desolate, and cabs roll down empty, wet streets.
LOOK to see how New Yorkers ready themselves for such an unprecedented storm:
Hurricane Irene - New York
Irene New York(01 of53)
A large, fallen tree blocks a road while it rest on some cars in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene bore down on a dark and quiet New York early Sunday, bringing winds and rapidly rising seawater that threatened parts of the city. The rumble of the subway system was silenced for the first time in years, the city all but shut down for the strongest tropical lashing since the 1980s. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:AP)
Irene(02 of53)
NBC reporter Peter Alexander attempts to broadcast from the windswept Coney Island boardwalk in New York as Hurricane Irene became intensified Sunday, Aug. 28 2011 in Coney Island section of New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle (credit:AP)
Irene(03 of53)
Gary Atlas, of Brighton Beach, N.Y., runs along the windswept Coney Island boardwalk in New York despite the onset of Hurricane Irene in the area Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011. Rainfall overflowed sewers and seawater lapped at sidewalks at the edges of New York City from densely populated lower Manhattan to the far reaches of Queens as a weakening Irene made landfall over Coney Island early Sunday. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
Irene(04 of53)
Rising water laps over the sea wall at Battery Park, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, in New York. Hurricane Irene bore down on a dark and quiet New York early Sunday, bringing winds and rapidly rising seawater that threatened parts of the city. The rumble of the subway system was silenced for the first time in years, the city all but shut down for the strongest tropical lashing since the 1980s. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (credit:AP)
Irene(05 of53)
Heavy rain falls as a police car drives in Battery Park City in New York as Hurricane Irene approaches, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011. Battery Park City and other areas in Lower Manhattan have been evacuated in advance of the storm. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) (credit:AP)
Irene(06 of53)
Sand is blown across a windswept Coney Island in New York as Hurricane Irene intensifies, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
APTOPIX Irene(07 of53)
A man walks in Times Square as Hurricane Irene arrives in New York, on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) (credit:AP)
(08 of53)
Photo by Damon Scheleur
Escaping the rain in Times Square(09 of53)
Photo by Damon Scheleur
34th Street(10 of53)
Photo by Damon Scheleur
Irene New York(11 of53)
A lone taxi drives down the west side highway in the hours before Hurricane Irene's arrival, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York. The low-lying Battery Park city area was evacuated the as the region girded for wind, rain, and flooding as the storm stood poised to bear down on an already saturated New York state. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
(12 of53)
Hurricane Irene: MTA Police finished securing Grand Central Terminal after the last trains departed. Photo by Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Marjorie Anders.
Irene New York(13 of53)
A pedestrian stands in the rain to read the plaque below the Wall Street statue of George Washington in the hours before Hurricane Irene's arrival, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York. Mayor Bloomberg advised all New Yorkers to prepare as the region girded for wind, rain, and flooding as the storm stood poised to bear down on an already saturated New York state. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
Irene New York(14 of53)
A solitary pedestrian strolls through the World Financial Center marina in the hours before Hurricane Irene's arrival, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York. The low-lying Battery Park city area was evacuated Saturday as the region girded for wind, rain, and flooding as the storm stood poised to bear down on an already saturated New York state. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
(15 of53)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 27: A man walks down a nearly empty South Street Seaport pedestrian mall ahead of the deadline for mandatory evacuation due to Hurricane Irene August 27, 2011 in New York City. There are approximately 370,000 city residents in low lying areas are under a mandatory evacuation order ahead of the hurricane. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(16 of53)
Front loaders build sand dunes to hold the surf back in preparation for Hurricane Irene, Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Long Beach, N.Y. Long Island residents in the path of Hurricane Irene girded for wind, rain and flooding as the storm stood poised to bear down on an already saturated New York state. Irene has the potential to cause billions of dollars in damage all along a densely populated arc that includes Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and beyond. At least 65 million people could be affected. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Hurricane Irene - New York(17 of53)
Police Officer John Diorio help New York city residents into the Seward Park High School Evacuation Center as Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(18 of53)
New York city Lower East side residents head to the Seward Park High School Evacuation Center. New York City citizens headed to evacuation centers all across the New York city area as Hurricane Irene makes its way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
(19 of53)
Hurricane Irene preparation: LIRR employees install an AquaDam to help prevent water from flowing into the LIRR's tunnels to Penn Station. Photo by Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Sam Zambuto.
Hurricane Irene - New York(20 of53)
New York city Lower East side residents register at the Seward Park High School Evacuation Center. New York City citizens headed to evacuation centers all across the New York city area as Hurricane Irene makes its way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(21 of53)
Ernest Moore delivers food supplies to the New York city Lower East side's Seward Park High School Evacuation Center. New York City citizens headed to evacuation centers all across the New York city area as Hurricane Irene makes its way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(22 of53)
Ernest Moore delivers food supplies to the New York city Lower East side's Seward Park High School Evacuation Center. New York City citizens headed to evacuation centers all across the New York city area as Hurricane Irene makes its way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(23 of53)
As Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City citizens head to evacuation centers on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(24 of53)
Eddie is helped into the Seward Park High School evacuation center New York city by Police Officers Cheryl Mottershead and Vince Wu residents head to the Seward Park High School Evacuation Center. New York City citizens headed to evacuation centers all across the New York city area as Hurricane Irene makes its way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(25 of53)
Various food stuffs like canned pears were delivered to the Seward Park High School Evacuation Center. New York City citizens headed to evacuation centers all across the New York city area as Hurricane Irene makes its way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(26 of53)
MTA workers enter the East Broadway F train station to prepare the subway system for the impending storm. As Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City citizens prepared their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(27 of53)
A sign can be seen on the Path Mark store in lower manhattan letting customers know the store will be closed for Hurricane Irene. As Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City citizens prepare their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(28 of53)
Flooding from rain can be seen under the Manhattan Bridge as Hurricane Irene makes it's way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(29 of53)
A sign on the Manhattan Bridge warns drivers of the the mandatory coastal evacuations as Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(30 of53)
A cruise ship can be seen docked in Red Hook as Hurricane Irene makes its way north on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(31 of53)
As Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City citizens along the Lower East side prepare their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(32 of53)
As Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City citizens along the Lower East side prepare their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
(33 of53)
Wayne Walker puts sandbags around his building located on the lower east side in preparation for Hurricane Irene in New York City on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(34 of53)
Wayne Walker and Nora Walker put sandbags around their building located on the lower east side in preparation for Hurricane Irene in New York City on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(35 of53)
As Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City citizens prepare their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(36 of53)
As Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City citizens prepare their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(37 of53)
Ibrahim Rodriguez screws plywood to the wall of the Water Street Gourmet as Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City. Citizens across the New York city metro area prepared their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(38 of53)
Nehad Moughrabi and Chike Lawrence prepare the Two Water Street building as Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City. Citizens across the New York city metro area prepared their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Hurricane Irene - New York(39 of53)
Nehad Moughrabi and Chike Lawrence prepare the Two Water Street building as Hurricane Irene bears down on New York City. Citizens across the New York city metro area prepared their businesses and buildings for flooding and wind damage on Saturday August 27, 2011. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) (credit:Damon Dahlen, AOL)
(40 of53)
Sandbags line drains along 8th Avenue in New York in preparation for Hurricane Irene, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/Chelsea Matiash)
(41 of53)
People wait at Penn Station in New York, where there is limited transportation due to Hurricane Irene, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/Chelsea Matiash)
(42 of53)
Plywood covers the windows of a Planet Hollywood restaurant in Times Sqaure, New York, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph (185 kph) and pounding shoreline homes with waves. Farther north in New York City and Philadelphia, authorities readied a massive shutdown of trains and airports, with 2 million people ordered out of the way.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
(43 of53)
Workers unload sandbags in preparation for Hurricane Irene in Manhattan's Battery Park City, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York. Mayor Bloomberg advised all New Yorkers to prepare, and the region girded for wind, rain, and flooding as the storm stood poised to bear down on an already saturated New York state. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
(44 of53)
People at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York experience sunny weather while Hurricane Irene bears down on the eastern seaboard further south, Friday, Aug. 26, 2011. The low number of visitors at the typically crowded beach reflects the wind, rain, and flooding dangers the storm poses to the already saturated New York state. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
(45 of53)
Framed by the Manhattan bridge and lower Manhattan a U-Haul truck makes it's way north on the FDR drive in the torrential rain, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 in New York. Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday by lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph (185 kph) and pounding shoreline homes with waves. Farther north, Philadelphia and New York City-area authorities readied a massive shutdown of trains and airports, with 2 million people ordered out of the way. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
(46 of53)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Workers put tape on a window of a spa in preparation for Hurricane Irene in the SoHo section of Manhattan on August 27, 2011 in New York City. Irene, now a Category 1 hurricane, has made landfall in North Carolina on its way up the eastern seaboard. (Photo by Preston Rescigno/Getty Images)
(47 of53)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 27: A liquor store front is covered in plastic and sandbags along South Street Seaport ahead of the deadline for mandatory evacuation due to Hurricane Irene in Battery Park City August 27, 2011 in New York City. There are approximately 370,000 city residents in low lying areas are under a mandatory evacuation order ahead of the hurricane. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(48 of53)
WESTHAMPTON, NY - AUGUST 27: Plywood covering a businesses windows are full of colorful expressions as the store is secured against the winds of Hurricane Irene on August 27, 2011 in Westhampton, New York. Irene is moving through North Carolina and is expected to arrive in the New York area on Sunday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
APTOPIX Irene(49 of53)
Traffic is very light on the Brooklyn bridge, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 in New York. Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday by lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph (185 kph) and pounding shoreline homes with waves. Farther north, Philadelphia and New York City-area authorities readied a massive shutdown of trains and airports, with 2 million people ordered out of the way.(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (credit:AP)
Irene(50 of53)
Storm clouds loom over lower Manhattan, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 in New York. Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday by lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph (185 kph) and pounding shoreline homes with waves. Farther north, Philadelphia and New York City-area authorities readied a massive shutdown of trains and airports, with 2 million people ordered out of the way.(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (credit:AP)
Irene(51 of53)
Shelves are seen at a D'Agastinos grocery store, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York. Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph (185 kph) and pounding shoreline homes with waves. Farther north in New York City and Philadelphia, authorities readied a massive shutdown of trains and airports, with 2 million people ordered out of the way. (AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof) (credit:AP)
Irene(52 of53)
Workmen install plywood over the windows of Bloomingdales, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in New York City. Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph (185 kph) and pounding shoreline homes with waves. Farther north in New York City and Philadelphia, authorities readied a massive shutdown of trains and airports, with 2 million people ordered out of the way. (AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof) (credit:AP)
Irene(53 of53)
A New York taxi cab drives through a puddle in New York, on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, as Hurricane Irene heads up the East Coast. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) (credit:AP)
Support HuffPost
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.