National Hurricane Center

Joaquin's track as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 1.

Hurricane Joaquin is now a “very dangerous category 4” storm, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. This afternoon, the city’s Department of Buildings issued an advisory to builders and property owners “to secure their construction sites and buildings.”

“Beginning tomorrow, Friday October 2nd through Tuesday October 6th, property owners and construction professionals should prepare for ongoing sustained winds upwards of 30mph with gusts in excess of 70mph,” the advisory read. “The Department is urging extreme caution be exercised and all necessary site safeguarding precautions be put in place.”

New Yorkers who lived through Sandy know what a coastal storm can mean. Those of us who were here for Floyd or who ill-advisedly skipped their 10th wedding anniversary to cover Hurricane Irene know that sometimes the scariest threat doesn’t materialize.

Chances are, Joaquin won’t trouble us. But it can’t hurt to review the Office of Emergency Management’s coastal storm guidelines or double check which evacuation zone you live in.