This hurricane thing is really happening: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered a mandatory evacuation of New Yorkers in low-lying zones, while the MTA will shut down subway service at 2pm Saturday.

The evacuation order involves "Zone A," which includes large parts of Staten Island and small parts of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. (See the map of evacuation zones here.) What are evacuated New Yorkers supposed to do? Here's a whole list of crap, but we like former Gizmodo writer John Herrman's suggestion: "Walk two blocks inland and demand shelter and nourishment at the nearest Starbucks."

All this talk of zones and evacuations is spookily reminiscent of an old zombie movie. Stock up on bottled water and shotgun shells, people.

[Image via AP]