A litter of kittens born in an Ocean Avenue alley during Monday's storm were found soaked but safe, animal rescuer Sean Casey told Patch.
The kittens and their mother were brought to Sean Casey's East 3rd Street shelter after a passerby spotted them Monday morning, just as Hurricane Sandy was beginning to gain force.
A volunteer has taken the new feline family to her home to weather the duration of the storm.
As for the animals who live in the shelter, Casey said he and a troupe of volunteers spent the morning battening down the hatches at the rescue's East 3rd Street location, working hard to secure windows, clean cages and walk the dogs.
The 39th Street location, on the other hand, will remain active throughout the hurricane, with rescue employees staying on site 24-hours a day in order to provide emergency care for animals displaced during the storm.
Casey said the shelter can provide accommodations for between 60 and 100 additional animals, depending on their size, and is working with the Office of Emergency Management and the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals to ensure that pets whose owners are evacuated from their homes have a safe place to stay.
"I'm hoping they won't need us, but we’ll be prepared to do our part," Casey said, adding that he is confident that he and his staff are prepared for anything.
"We've weathered many a storm and never had an issue. We expect this one to be no different."
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the kittens were found on Ocean Parkway. They were found on Ocean Avenue.
