Some Residents In Evacuation Zone May Defy Orders To Leave

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Residents in New York City's Zone A have been ordered to evacuate by 7 p.m. Sunday ahead of Hurricane Sandy's landfall.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg made that announcement Sunday afternoon, shortly after it was announced that MTA bus and subway service would be suspended starting at 7 p.m. as well.

WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reports

But some residents in Zone A said they have no plans to seek higher ground.

"We go down with the ship. My wife and I will be staying with our house and whatever comes about it, comes about it," a Breezy Point, Queens resident told WCBS 880's Alex Silverman.

WEB EXTRA: Zone A Map

"I have a strong house and hopefully I'll be OK. There's no place to go," another resident told Silverman.

Zone A is home to 375,000 residents.

HURRICANE SANDY: Track | Forecast | Severe Weather Guide |Traffic & Transit | Travel Guide

Listen Now: 1010 WINS | WCBS 880

Bloomberg said that while those who defy the evacuation orders will not be arrested, he cautioned that it would be a selfish decision because it would potentially put first responders at risk if the residents need to be rescued.

Other Breezy Shore residents said they plan to comply with the evacuation orders since this storm seems like a once-in-a-generation event.

"I've been down here when they've had the ocean and the bay meet during a hurricane. One was in [19]57, one was in 47," a longtime Breezy Point resident told Silverman. "I think this one's going to be worse."

That Breezy Point resident said this storm is not the time to test the city's emergency response.

"Everybody should leave," he told Silverman.

Battery Park City in lower Manhattan is also part of Zone A, and residents there are also mixed over whether to follow the evacuation orders.

1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports

"I left before, nothing happened and I feel very secure that I'll be in my apartment. I have food, I have water, I have a search light, I have candlelight and I feel that I'll just weather it out," a Battery Park City resident told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg.

"As bad as it could be, I think we'll survive it. I think it's a lot of hype," said another Battery Park City resident who plans to hunker down and ride out Sandy's wrath.

But some residents are heading to higher ground, where they plan to stay with friends further uptown.

"I don't want to be stuck without power. I don't have a flashlight so I figured why take a chance," a Battery Park City resident told Sandberg.

One resident who said he does not plan to evacuate said there is always time to get away if needed.

"If you need to get to higher ground, OK, we'll walk through water and get to higher ground," the man told Sandberg.

Do you plan to follow evacuation orders? Why or why not? Share your comments below...