New York City announces new hurricane safety initiatives

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- New safety initiatives were announced Wednesday aimed at protecting New Yorkers during the upcoming hurricane season.

The city's Office of Emergency Management unveiled new coastal storm evacuation route signs during a news conference on Staten Island.

FEMA was part of the announcement, which included details on 100,000 "know your zone" brochures in 13 languages that will be hand-delivered to residents in each zone.

Officials also unveiled a high water mark sign at Midland Beach "Splaza" (splash plaza). The new sign is part of FEMA's pilot program to promote and increase public awareness about storm surge risk in order to build resiliency against future flooding.

Hurricane season officially began Wednesday, even though we've already had two named storms.

U.S. government forecasters are expecting a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season after three relatively slow years.