With part of upstate New York facing flooding and other areas drenched in rainfall, the mayor has released a revised plan for coastal communities like Edgewater.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg?s (R-NYC) new plan includes increasing the number of emergency shelters from 23 to 65 citywide and evacuating days ahead of storms. Bloomberg says forecasters? ability to predict storms well in advance of landfall would make that possible. Bloomberg and city emergency officials say they have studied the effects of hurricane Katrina and believe they can address the concerns of special needs residents, hospitals and residents receiving home care. Officials say they would provide transportation to evacuate anyone who is unable to do so themselves.

Bloomberg says the threat of a hurricane is minimal at this time, but he is taking a better safe than sorry approach.