EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 178 DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY January 31, 2021 WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY DECLARATION

 

T H E C I T Y O F N E W Y O R K 

O F F I C E O F T H E M A Y O R  

EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 178 

DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY 

January 31, 2021 

WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY DECLARATION 

WHEREAS, the public safety is imperiled by a forecasted severe snowstorm that is expected to interrupt the flow of traffic, restrict the operation of emergency vehicles and impede the delivery of essential goods and services; 

WHEREAS, it is necessary to restrict vehicular traffic as provided herein in order to protect life and property and to allow for rapid and effective snow removal; 

NOW THEREFORE, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of New York pursuant to law, including Executive Law § 24 and Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1602, I hereby proclaim a state of local emergency in the City of New York and order: 

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in section 2 of this order, for the duration of the current state of local emergency, the streets and highways of the City are closed for vehicular traffic, effective 6:00 AM on Monday, February 1, 2021 to 6:00 AM on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. 

§ 2. The following vehicles may operate on City streets and highways while the state of emergency remains in effect: 

a) MTA buses, Access-a-Ride vehicles, and other vehicles used for purposes of any federal, state or local government agency, including vehicles operated by contractors hired by any government agency for the purpose of responding to this emergency;

 b) Vehicles used for the purposes of any private agency, organization or group organized and functioning for the purpose of providing fire, medical, ambulance, rescue, housing, food or other services directed toward relieving human suffering, injury or loss of life or damage to property as a result of an emergency, including non-profit and governmentally-supported organizations; 

c) Vehicles used to deliver food, medical supplies or fuel; 

d) Vehicles used by utility companies to perform emergency repairs;

e) Vehicles used to transport persons employed in pharmacies, grocery stores (including all food and beverage stores), convenience stores, gas stations, laundromats, news media, restaurants/bars, hotels, and other places of accommodation, and hardware stores, to and from their places of employment; 

f) Vehicles used to transport persons to hospitals or other medical facilities for medical care; 

g) Other select commercial vehicles with prior approval of the City; and 

h) Any other vehicles used to transport persons employed to perform any of the services described in this section to and from their places of employment. 

§ 3. The Open Restaurants Program shall be suspended on Monday, February 1, 2021 to the extent that it allows establishments to serve diners on the street. Establishments may continue to provide service on the sidewalk space directly in front of their premises. 

§ 4. Open Streets shall be suspended from 6:00 AM on Monday, February 1, 2021 to 6:00 AM on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. 

§ 5. Any vehicle found to be blocking roadways or impeding the ability to plow streets shall be subject to towing. 

§ 6. The Emergency Management, Fire, Police, Sanitation, and Transportation Commissioners shall take all appropriate and necessary steps to preserve public safety and to render all required and available assistance to protect the security, well-being and health of the residents of the City. 

§ 7. Alternate side of the street parking rules shall be suspended on Monday, February 1, 2021 and Tuesday, February 2, 2021. 

§ 8. In accordance with Executive Law §24, any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this order shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. 

§ 9. This order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect for three days unless extended or sooner revoked. 

Bill de Blasio MAYOR