Mayor Mamdani Declares Local State of Emergency, Snow Day for NYC Public Schools to Preserve New Yorkers Secure

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani at this time declared an area state of emergency forward of a extreme snowstorm anticipated to influence New York City. To guarantee emergency responders and important employees can transfer safely and rapidly, metropolis streets might be closed to non-essential vehicular site visitors from 9 p.m. Sunday to 12 p.m. Monday.

Limited exceptions apply to automobiles offering emergency companies, public transportation, medical provides, meals, gasoline, utility repairs and different important companies.

Mayor Mamdani additionally introduced that every one New York City Public School buildings, besides these working as warming facilities, might be closed on Monday, Feb. 23. There might be a standard ‘snow day.’ No distant instruction will happen, and all after-school actions are cancelled.

In coordination with the New York State Education Department, New York City has acquired a waiver from the 180-day tutorial requirement to prioritize the protection of scholars, workers and households.

The Emergency Weather Declaration additionally:

• Suspends Alternate Side Parking for Monday, Feb. 23.
• Directs the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to monitor and implement towards worth gouging.
• Instructs New York City Emergency Management, the City of New York Fire Department, the New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and the New York City Department of Transportation to take all crucial steps to guard public security.

The order takes impact instantly and stays in impact for 5 days, besides the place in any other case restricted, and until prolonged or revoked.

City authorities has mobilized a coordinated, multi-agency response to clear roads, defend weak New Yorkers, and preserve important companies.

“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority. As this blizzard moves in, our administration is mobilizing every tool at our disposal, around the clock, to keep our neighbors safe. This emergency declaration allows us to cut through red tape so emergency vehicles, sanitation crews, and essential workers can move quickly and do their jobs without delay,” stated Mayor Mamdani. “Out of an abundance of caution, schools will be closed tomorrow. We’ve also opened warming centers in all five boroughs to make sure no one is left out in the cold. I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home. Check in on your neighbors, especially seniors and those who may need extra support. This declaration strengthens our ability to back up our first responders as they put themselves on the line, and it protects working families from price gouging during this storm. In moments like this, we show who we are as a city — we take care of each other.”

About the Local State of Emergency:

The declaration establishes a short lived citywide journey restriction by closing NYC streets, highways, bridges and tunnels to vehicular site visitors from 9 p.m. Sunday to 12 p.m. Monday. Most car site visitors – together with however not restricted to industrial vehicles, electrical bicycles, scooters, and mopeds – is prohibited throughout that interval, aside from licensed classes.

Exempt automobiles embody:

• Government and emergency response automobiles
• Public transit, together with MTA buses and Access-A-Ride
• Vehicles delivering meals, gasoline and medical provides
• Utility automobiles performing emergency repairs
• Transportation for important employees touring to workplaces, together with well being care services, pharmacies, grostores, gasoline stations, media retailers, motels and laundrom
• Transportation to hospitals and courtroom services
• Nonprofit and personal organizations offering emergency reduction

City workplaces might be closed for in-person companies on Monday. Essential staff should report back to work; nonessential staff might telework. Violations of journey restrictions are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor.

Warming Centers and Shelter Access

The New York City Department of Social Services will deploy 22 warming busses citywide. Additional warming areas can be found at 11 NYC Health + Hospital services and 13 faculty areas. New Yorkers ought to contact 311 or go to a LinkNYC kiosk for the closest web site.

Department of Homeless Services (DHS) continues to function underneath enhanced Code Blue protocols. During Code Blue, shelters function underneath an open-door coverage. Outreach groups are connecting unsheltered New Yorkers to protected, heat house. During a Code Blue, 311 is routed to 911 so first responders can mobilize rapidly to succeed in the particular person in want. New Yorkers ought to name 311 in the event that they see anybody in want of help.

New York City Health + Hospitals (H+H):

• NYC Health + Hospitals may also deploy WARM (Winter Access, Relief and Medical) ambulettes and cell models beginning at this time. The cell warming outreach initiative will present medical consultations, in addition to distribute important provides together with blankets, heat clothes, socks, heat meals, and water. The models may also drive unsheltered New Yorkers to a heat place of their selecting (shelter, warming middle, and so on). 
• NYC Health + Hospitals might be in fixed communication to make sure sufficient staffing and that sufferers know their choices for care. For affected person security, the well being care system has transformed most in-person Monday clinic appointments to telehealth visits, as clinically acceptable.  It may also rapidly reschedule any missed appointment. 
• The City is directing all hospitals to train heightened warning when discharging sufferers, notably weak sufferers, throughout the chilly climate. The City has additionally directed shelters and protected havens to monitor the areas round their buildings for any New Yorkers in want. 

Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH):

• The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is informing New Yorkers about how they’ll keep protected and heat, together with by sharing suggestions on making ready for the winter storm, and what to do for those who lose warmth or sizzling water in your house.
• All New Yorkers ought to take warning when utilizing medicine or alcohol outdoors, as chilly publicity will increase threat. To greatest defend New Yorkers, the NYC Health Department is offering assist to OnPoint so their Wellness Hubs stay open 24/7 by the blizzard to assist group members looking for heat and companies.  
• Older New Yorkers ought to keep indoors, keep away from shoveling, and take steps to forestall slips and falls. Older grownup facilities might be closed on Monday. 
• Infants, seniors, and folks with paralysis or neuropathy are at elevated threat of hypothermia and frostbite. Check on pals, relations, and neighbors who might have help to make sure they’re adequately shielded from the chilly. Recognize the indicators and signs of frostbite and hypothermia: 
• Hypothermia: signs embody slurred speech, sluggishness, confusion, dizziness, shallow respiration, uncommon conduct, and sluggish, irregular heartbeat. 
• Frostbite: signs embody grey, white or yellow discoloration, numbness, and waxy feeling pores and skin. 
• The City can be mandating {that a} path of at the least 4 ft have to be cleared throughout all sidewalks to accommodate wheelchairs. 

New York City Fire Department (FDNY):

• Starting Sunday at 6 p.m., there might be 5 firefighters on all Engine Companies, with further staffing citywide.  
• Four high-axle automobiles might be deployed, 1 in Staten Island, 1 in Queens, 1 in Brooklyn, and 1 within the Bronx. 
• FDNY will deploy ten Rapid Response Vehicles (RRV) for Cold Calls, 2 per borough. Each RRV might be staffed with 1 officer and a pair of Firefighters.  
• Thawing equipment deployed to all fires. 
  
• All ambulances might be outfitted with chains.  
• Trainings might be canceled and scheduled members might be utilized within the subject.  
• Extra staffing might be added for EMS. 

New York City Police Department (NYPD):

• NYPD Highway Patrol might be escorting DSNY to assist salt and plow streets. 
• Tow truck activity power is activated and vehicles might be pre-staged throughout the town to help any motorists who’re caught. 
• Additional high-water rescue groups have been activated since average coastal flooding is anticipated. 

New York City Public Schools (NYCPS):

• NYCPS services groups are working across the clock to shovel and de-ice faculty buildings, guarantee sufficient heating and backup energy protocols are in place, and ensure emergency provides are prepared.  
• Clear and constant communication with households stays a precedence, with updates being shared in all NYCPS languages by letters, emails, SMS messages, social media, robocalls and web site postings. 

Public Transit and Ferries:

• With the anticipated winter climate situations, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) advises clients to verify MTA.information or the MTA app for subway and bus service updates, and the TrainTime app for commuter rail info earlier than touring. Most subway traces will nonetheless function native service, and scheduled monitor work has been suspended. Bus service could also be adjusted based mostly on highway situations.
• Crews throughout subways, railroads, and buses are working to maintain service transferring throughout the storm. Subway and railroad groups are monitoring switches and tracks, whereas clearing snow from platforms, stairs, and entrances.
• Longer accordion-style buses have been changed with 40-foot normal buses outfitted with chained wheels.
• Bus service might be adjusted based mostly on highway situations across the metropolis and repair curtailments on a route-by-route foundation are potential.
• From 7 p.m. Sunday to 10 .a.m. Monday, empty tractor-trailers and tandem vehicles are prohibited on the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Cross-Bay Bridge, Henry Hudson Bridge, Marine Parkway Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
• Staten Island Ferry service will change to an hourly schedule at midnight. Half hour service might be provided beginning at 6 am.
• Scooter share service stopped this morning at 6 am.
• CitiBike service will halt at 8 pm.

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM):

• NYC Emergency Management activated the City’s Winter Weather Emergency Plan and issued a Hazardous Travel Advisory for Sunday, February 22 and Monday, February 23.
• NYCEM activated a hybrid Emergency Operations Center with company companions, convened day by day Winter Weather Steering Committee calls, and is staffing Con Edison Distribution Engineering Situation Room calls. NYCEM is issuing Citywide Impact Summaries each two hours to metropolis companies, whereas the Tow Truck Task Force operates underneath open line coordination.
• NYCEM, DSS, and City Hall are activating Warming Bus Operations, coordinating areas, signage, vendor deployment, and 311 updates. NYCEM is sustaining coordinated outreach with elected officers, non-public sector, well being and medical, COOP companions, and group stakeholders.

New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY):

• The Department of Sanitation has been responding to this storm since yesterday, and all assortment vehicles and salt spreaders at the moment are affixed with plows and chains. The Department has been in full-force operations since 6am this morning, with 2600 Sanitation Workers now deployed on every successive 12-hour shift. 700 Salt Spreaders are loaded and 1000’s of plows are able to roll.
• DSNY has known as in a whole bunch of items of employed gear and 1000’s of paid Emergency Snow Shovelers, far sooner than in prior snow occasions. New methods and knowledge monitoring are being deployed to extra rapidly and effectively tackle crosswalks, bus stops, and different pedestrian infrastructure.
• Property homeowners are reminded to clear a four-foot path to permit protected passage for wheelchairs and strollers after finish of precipitation.
• The similar sanitation employees preventing this storm additionally decide up your trash, and assortment might be delayed following this storm. We are asking residents with Monday recycling to HOLD that materials to the next week, as is widespread after some holidays.
• Staying off the roads tonight will permit New York’s Strongest to work safer and quicker in these extraordinarily difficult situations.

Housing Preservation and Development (HPD):

• HPD has code inspectors and workers from the Emergency Repair Program staff working time beyond regulation this weekend to answer 311 complaints, conduct inspections, and coordinate emergency repairs when warranted
• If New Yorkers have points with the warmth or sizzling water of their house, they need to name their landlord. If they don’t rapidly reply, tenants ought to name 311 and a uniformed HPD inspector will come, conduct an inspection, concern violations and if warranted, coordinate emergency repairs.

Department of Buildings (DOB):

• DOB issued a climate advisory to builders, contractors, crane operators, and property homeowners, reminding them of their duty to correctly safe development websites, buildings, and gear forward of the winter storm.  
• The division could have inspectors out within the subject over the weekend responding to weather-related incidents and performing random spot-check inspections of development websites across the metropolis.
• If websites aren’t secured, the division will take fast enforcement motion — issuing violations and Stop Work Orders, the place crucial.

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA):

• NYCHA has mobilized further assets this weekend, together with further groups deployed throughout elevator, warmth and different technical groups for any talent commerce repairs which will come up.
• NYCHA additionally has mills on standby that may be mobilized if wanted.
• NYCHA residents in want of non-emergency help ought to name the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or submit work tickets by the MyNYCHA utility.

Libraries:

• All areas of Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library (which covers the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), and Queens Public Library might be closed.
• E-books and different distant assets can be found to New Yorkers 24/7 through bklynlibrary.org (http://bklynlibrary.org/), nypl.org (http://nypl.org/), and queenslibrary.org (http://queenslibrary.org/).

NYC Ferry:

• NYC Ferry expects potential service impacts attributable to storm situations together with potential early closure on Sunday and a late begin of service on Monday. Specific service impacts might be shared on the NYC Ferry app and ferry.nyc. Riders ought to verify the web site or app earlier than touring.
• As all the time, throughout instances of inclement climate, please use further precaution when touring to and from landings.

NYC Department of Correction:

• DOC activated our Emergency Operation middle (EOC) to make sure communication is streamlined and updates are supplied in actual time to make sure all services have assets upfront and throughout the storm for each individuals in our care and workers.
• The DOC upkeep workers is salting and brining roads and has snowplows readily available to function as wanted. In addition, a staff of upkeep workers might be out there to deal with any facility points that come up on Rikers Island.
• The division has an ample provide of provisions onsite together with almost 6,000 blankets and over 20,000 thermal tops and bottoms readily available and able to deploy as requested.
• Temperatures in housing areas are monitored usually, and folks in our care could have entry to the Office of Constituent and Grievance Services to lift any points.
• The division will notify individuals in custody about any companies which are affected.
• Commissioner Richards might be on web site on Rikers Island this night to personally monitor situations.

Con Edison:

• Con Edison has mobilized further crews, has mutual support on standby, and might be working 24/7 to answer any weather-related service points.
• Con Edison has crews are additionally ready to reply swiftly and safely to any weather-related service points or outages that may end result when highway salt mixes with melting snow.
• Con Edison has deployed further staffing of crews in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx to keep up service of our underground system.  We have secured Underground mutual support contractors to help as properly in Brooklyn/Queens.
• Each working area could have across the clock ICS protection starting Sunday at 6:00 PM by Monday.
• Con Edison stays in shut coordination with New York City Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services to assist a unified response.
• Con Edison has opened a Situation Room and is holding twice a day calls to remain coordinated.
• The firm prepares yr‑spherical for excessive situations by common coaching, emergency response drills with native companies, and continued investments to ship resilient and dependable power as excessive climate turns into extra frequent.
• The firm urges the general public to prioritize security by staying away from downed wires, which can be reside, and reporting them instantly to Con Edison or by calling 911.
• Customers can report outages and verify restoration updates at conEd.com, by the Con Edison cell app, or by calling 1‑800‑75‑CONED (1‑800‑752‑6633).

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