With Hurricane Sandy approaching, I wanted to give you an update on the best ways to get up-to-date information and keep in touch with my office during this storm.

Real-time information about Hurricane Sandy can be found at the NYC Severe Weather website, located at http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/nycsevereweather/weather_home.shtml.

In addition, my office will be regularly updating our Facebook and Twitter pages with news about the storm as we get it. Our Facebook address is www.facebook.com/bronxbp and our Twitter handle is @rubendiazjr.

In preparation for the storm, please stock up on essentials such as water and batteries. Also, for safety reasons, please do not use candles in your home should you lose power. The National Weather Service offers a helpful checklist on hurricane preparedness, and what you should be doing to prepare yourself for this storm. You can find that list here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php.

Please note that the MTA has suspended mass transit service as of 7 p.m. this evening, and that New York City public schools are closed tomorrow, Monday, October 29. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact my office using the links above.

Stay safe,

Ruben Diaz Jr.