The AP reported, "The low-lying areas are scattered across the city and are home to about 270,000 residents. They include parts of Battery Park City, Coney Island and the Rockaways. Bloomberg calls the mandatory evacuations a first."

Bloomberg said in a televised press conference: "Seniors homes and nursing homes and these hospitals must evacuate unless exempted on a case-by-case basis." Bloomberg said evacuations were to be completed by today.

Emergency shelters are opening Friday afternoon. The city's mass transit system will be shutdown Saturday.

Hurricane Irene is the first hurricane expected to hit New York City in a generation. (c) tPC

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