County to Close BRP, Bus Service Suspended

Bee Line Bus service will be suspended and the Bronx River Parkway closed Monday as officials prepare for the expected arrival of Hurricane Sandy.

County Executive Robert Astorino announced Sunday the Bronx River Parkway will close at 6 a.m. Monday. Bee Line Bus Service was suspended at 9 p.m. Sunday. All county-operated parks—including the Playland Ice Casino and the Westchester County Center—will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

“During Hurricane Irene, early closures of these parkways turned out to be one of the best decisions we made to protect the public,” Astorino said. “I have ordered the closure of the entire length of the Bronx River Parkway and all other parkways are subject to closure at any time.”

The county has already provided thousands of sand bags to communities across the county, Astorino said. Sound Shore communities had received approximately 2,000 sand bags as of Sunday afternoon, Astorino said. Another 3,000 bags were provided in Yonkers and another 1,000 were sent to Cortlandt.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to strike Westchester hardest beginning Monday evening, bringing with it heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service. Along with precipitation will come a northeast wind reaching up to 70 miles-per-hour.

The storm is expected to linger in the area Tuesday, with winds topping off around 55 miles-per-hour.

Astorino said Sunday that Westchester County Airport remains open, but that virtually all flights have been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday. Officials are urging residents to avoid travel if at all possible. Several public schools across the county have already closed Monday.

“Let me reiterate that this is a very powerful storm and I urge residents to take all necessary precautions and stay inside," Astorino said. "People should have several days of water, food and other emergency supplies on hand in the event of extended power outages."

Astorino said the county's website will be updated regularly with information about municipal shelters and other cancellations. Non-emergency information is also available through the United Way's Help Line at 2-1-1.

“I also urge people to keep an eye on their neighbors and neighborhoods,” Astorino said. “Together we can get through this.”