Hurricane Sandy 2012: New York City Evacuation Zone Maps, Shelters, Storm Surges East

New York City is waiting in the wake of Hurricane Sandy threatening 50 million people. CBS News reported that the category 1 storm gained strength on Monday according to forecasters and The National Hurricane Center said on Monday that "Hurricane Sandy increased its top sustained winds from 75 mph to 85 mph, with higher gusts, and was picking up speed."

New York City did a mandatory evacuation of zone A locations. According to NYC.gov Zone A residents "face the highest risk of flooding from a hurricane's storm surge. Zone A includes all low-lying coastal areas and other areas that could experience storm surge in ANY hurricane that makes landfall close to New York City."

Bloomberg said today in a press release today, "If you are still in zone A and can find a way to leave, leave immediately."

Zone A locations includes places like Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Coney Island, Red Hook, The Rockaways, Hamilton Beach, all coastal areas in Staten Island, Battery Park City and areas of Lower Manhattan. See this map for full details of zone areas.

For individuals who can't get to someone elses home, there are a number of evacuation centers around the city. See the list here.

As of Monday morning, the hurricane is getting faster and moving northwest at 20 mph. CBS reported at 8:00 a.m. ET the storm was about 310 miles south of New York City.

"Gale force winds were reported over coastal North Carolina, southeastern Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula and coastal New Jersey," reported CBS News.

CBS reported that Sandy will strengthen as it approaches the East Coast and will have hurricane-force winds by Monday afternoon. Flooding will also be a threat.

The New York Times reported, The National Hurricane Center said "A turn toward the northwest is expected soon. The center of Sandy is expected to make landfall along or just south of the southern New Jersey coast this evening or tonight."

The New York Times reported that landfall is expected on Monday night between central new Jersey and southern Delaware. In preparation for the storm, NYC subway has been shut down as of Monday evening and the New York Stock Exchange was closed.