Queens, Nassau Lawmakers Call On State To Improve Storm Emergency Routes
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It's still hurricane season and a couple of local lawmakers want to make sure residents and officials are prepared in the event of another superstorm, like Sandy.
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Far Rockaway) and Nassau County Leg. Howard Kopel are urging the state to improve local roads needed for emergency evacuations during disasters.
"We need to make major investments. Our evacuation routes have poor infrastructure and can't handle the daily traffic let alone the potential for another disaster in the future," Goldfeder said.
During a rally on Sunday the lawmakers also demanded the state clarify and update emergency evacuation route signage across southern Queens, Rockaway and neighboring communities on Long Island.
Coming up on the two year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Goldfeder and Kopel said nothing has been done to make sure roadways are able to handle mass evacuations to get families out quickly and safely.
"The worst damage caused by Sandy was because many agencies didn't learn their lesson from Irene," Goldfeder said. "It's been two years since Hurricane Sandy and quite frankly our roadways have not gotten the investment they need. Now is the time, we can't wait another day."
Thousands of Queens and Long Island residents have signed a petition expressing their concern about the conditions of the emergency route roadways, the lawmakers said.
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