Highlights:

• Click here to print a Hurricane Relief Flyer for your families
• UNITED SIKHS urges all Gurdwaras in the East Coast to brace for evacuees and will be working with Red Cross to serve food at evacuation shelters.
  
• The New York Disaster Interfaith Center reports that the City will suspend all Mass transit starting 12 Noon, Saturday, August 27th – please consider suspending all your faith communities’ activities until Monday (including worship).
• NYC orders evacuations; Mass transit to shut down. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered mandatory evacuations for residents in low-lying coastal areas ahead of Hurricane Irene. Emergency shelters will be open at 4pm

New York, NY: President Obama on Friday morning urged Americans in the path of hurricane Irene to take the storm seriously, and Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano warned that the “window is quickly closing” to make preparations.
The governors of Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York have declared states of emergency as hurricane Irene nears land. President Obama has declared North Carolina a federal disaster area ahead of the storm’s arrival. At the time of issuing this note, President Obama has cut short his vacation to return to the White House and declared state of emergency in New York.
Federal storm-surge maps show the potential for four- to 10-foot surges across a massive swath of the eastern United States, with potentially disastrous impacts in eastern North Carolina, the Tidewater area of Virginia, as well as the Potomac River that runs through Washington, D.C.
We reproduce below hurricane preparedeness guidelines from NBC/Red Cross:

• prepare a disaster plan (determine how to locate and communicate with family members, and make sure the home is properly insured);
• know where to go (finding friends or family to stay with outside the evacuation zone, or report to a hurricane shelter);
• keep a small “go bag” ready (which should include copies of important documents in a waterproof container; extra sets of keys; copies of credit and ATM cards; $50 to $100 in cash; up-to-date medication information and other essential personal items; first-aid kit; contact and meeting information for family members; child care supplies – do not forget “reading glasses” if you need them).
• You can make sure you’ve got everything with this handy checklist. http://media.nbcbayarea.com/documents/hurricane-preparedness-safety.pdf
• Homeowners should secure their properties. Storm shutters are the best type of protection, but if you don’t have those, board up windows with marine plywood. Additional clips or straps are recommended to secure roofs.
• Bring in loose, lightweight objects such as lawn furniture, potted plants, garbage cans, garden tools and toys. Anchor objects that would be unsafe outside, such as gas grills or propane tanks. Close up and secure patio umbrellas, and secure retractable awnings.
• Remove aerial antennas and satellite television dishes.
• Trees and shrubs around your home should also be well-trimmed. Also remember to clear your gutters.

For all your hurricane preparedness questions, go here. You can also make sure you’re
taking all the right steps with this preparedness checklist.
Gurvinder Singh, Sikh Aid Director, said, “We urge all Gurdwaras and Sikh organizations on the East Coast to come together in assistance of the affected communities preparing for Hurricane Irene. We will issue regular updates, till we tide over the situation. In case of any emergency please call 911. As a next line of support you may call us at 1-888-243-1690”.
To get more updates on Hurricane Irene please click: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ or http://www.nbcnewyork.com/weather/  or  RSS feed link https://www.unitedsikhs.org/rss/DRUpdates.php
To print flyer click here.
In case of emergency call 911. You can also reach UNITED SIKHS for more information at 1-888-243-1690