NEW YORK CITY-The city is taking several precautions in preparation for Hurricane Sandy, which is currently moving northward off the southeastern US coast. While it is still too early to determine the storm’s precise track, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city government is coordinating with Gov. Andrew Cuomo on emergency planning efforts for the five boroughs.

Bloomberg said during a press conference this afternoon that the city’s Office of Emergency Management will order the MTA to suspend service on subways, bridges and tunnels if winds reach 39 miles per hour or higher. “Whenever or wherever, the city is expected to feel its effects for several days,” Bloomberg said, noting that the city can experience heavy rain and flooding, but as of now, government offices and other municipal agencies will be open Monday unless otherwise noted. “This is a large unpredictable storm,” he added, explaining that schedules are subject to change. "We will continue to provide updates as needed. We are taking all the steps we can, but we don’t know where it will land.”

City residents in low-lying areas – such as Coney Island, Battery Park City and Staten Island’s North Shore – were not ordered to evacuate, but Bloomberg urged residents to check NYC.gov throughout the weekend for vital storm updates and information. In addition, the city’s Department of Buildings also halted all construction as of 5 p.m. Saturday as a safety precaution.