Mayor Mike Bloomberg has announced the evacuations of hospitals, low areas, Zone A and the Rockaways  by 5pm on Saturday in preparation for Hurricane Irene. The Mayor has also announced that the winds from the hurricane will be reaching New York City sooner than expected. Read more details after the jump.

@Julie1205

Zone A (Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Far Rockaway, Broad Channel, South Beach, Midland Beach, Battery Park City) must be evacuated by 5pm on Saturday. Winds from the hurricane will be reaching NYC as early as Saturday at 9pm. Evacuations of Staten Island University Hospital and Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn have begun. The Mayor’s office will be also be delivering latest developments on their twitter account: NYCMayorsOffice.