Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everyone. We have a big challenge on our hands. You know, we’ve had so many other challenges before, and the last year’s been real tough, but welcome to February 2021, we have a new challenge, and that is a pure blizzard. This is the real thing. So, blizzard conditions today. I want to emphasize, I'm going to say it clearly, I know my colleagues are going to say clearly – blizzard conditions, stay off the road, stay off the streets and sidewalks, stay inside. If there's any way you can avoid traveling, avoid traveling today. Let me tell you why I say blizzard conditions, because at the most intense points, you're going to see two to four inches of snow per hour. That is extremely intense snow – that's blinding snow. You do not want to be out in that if there's any way you can avoid it. So, please, everyone, heed this message. We're expecting somewhere between 16 inches and 22 inches of snow before this storm is over, that's what the National Weather Service is saying. And that kind of estimate can often be low, we might even see more. So, this is the real thing. We expect some moderate close coastal flooding, we're watching that situation carefully as well. But the bottom line here is, stay off the roads. It's not just me giving you advice, it is a specific order of the City government. We are in a local state of emergency. I signed an executive order last night, and this executive order makes clear we're requiring people to stay off the roads except for essential travel. This one to effect at 6:00 AM this morning. It will go to 6:00 AM tomorrow morning.
Now, look, again, we understand emergency vehicles will be out there, health-related vehicles will be out there – ambulances, etcetera – essential services, people delivering food, that kind of thing. But we do not want anything non-essential going on. We've got to take this really seriously. So, a state of emergency in place. We're going to be constantly getting the message out to people, what we're seeing from the storm. But I am fearful that even this tough situation we have now could even get worse. So, I need people to heed the call, stay home, stay off the streets, help the Sanitation Department do what they need to do.
Now, remember, the snow removal is the way we come back out of this storm and that it can't – our colleagues at the Sanitation Department, these incredible men and women who do this work, they can't clear the streets if there's cars in the way, just doesn't work. There's a traffic jam, the whole thing falls apart. So, this is why it's so important to stay off the streets. Alternate side parking will be canceled today through Saturday. So, wherever your car is, you can leave it. You don't have to worry about that. A lot of disruption, obviously, in travel – a huge number of flights have been canceled. New York City Ferry - NYC Ferry, SeaStreak Ferry have been suspended today. Staten Island Ferry, reduced schedule, modified schedule. Subways and buses, right now, delays – still running, that obviously could change. As storms get worse, sometimes, the State decides to alter subway and bus activity. So, you know, that's something to keep an eye on. That could change in the course of this.
Now, let's talk about schools. Today, in-person learning was suspended. We have obviously all kids learning remotely. We're going to do the same tomorrow. So, there will not be in-person schools tomorrow. Remote education, of course, will go on for all kids tomorrow, Tuesday. But Wednesday, we'll be back strong. So, parents – so you can plan, I wanted to make sure you knew this as early as possible. No school today. No school tomorrow in person. We're back in person Wednesday, but every day, of course, we'll have remote learning. The programs that go with schools, the food programs for the community, those will be canceled when school is canceled. So, they will not be up today or tomorrow. Learning Bridges, the childcare program will not be up today or tomorrow. So, those both will be canceled, but back on Wednesday.
Open Restaurants – the outdoor restaurants, canceled tonight. We'll see about tomorrow night. There's a chance we might be able to get them back for tomorrow night, depending on how the plowing operations go and how the weather goes. So, we'll have an update on that later on today or tomorrow morning. And, of course, we're watching out for everyone's safety, so Code Blue is in effect. If you see a homeless person in distress, if it's urgent distress, call 9-1-1. If it's someone who needs help otherwise, call 3-1-1. We want to make sure we get people to help they need.
Our team has been working non-stop to prepare for the storm and address its challenges. And, of course, led by our Emergency Management Commissioner. And she and her team are doing a great job, covering a lot of basis to keep everyone safe. Now, I turn to Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell.
Commissioner Deanne Criswell, Office of Emergency Management: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And good morning, everybody. Yeah, when we woke up this morning, there was already over six inches of snow on the ground in some parts of the city, and that's before the heavy bands had even started to move in. So, this is going to be an extremely dangerous and treacherous storm. We're starting to see the heavier bands of snow now and that's going to last until early evening. And, as the Mayor stated, we are expecting a total accumulation of 16 to 22 inches. But, again, that could still go up. I'm saying it's a minimum of 16 to 22 inches. So, please be prepared.
We're also starting to see an increase in the winds right now, especially along the coastal areas. We still expect sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts as much as 40 to 50 miles per hour at times. And while the National Weather Service has not issued an official blizzard warning, as the Mayor stated, we are going to see blizzard-like conditions intermittently throughout the day today. And so, I am really encouraging everyone, please exercise extreme caution, even as you're out walking outside today for the things that you need to do. Please exercise extreme caution, the conditions are going to be very hazardous.
Because of these conditions, there are travel restrictions in place. And we did issue a wireless emergency alert this morning at 8:00 AM to remind all New Yorkers to please stay off the roads. As the Mayor also mentioned, we are expecting to see some moderate flooding during tonight's high tide and the National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood warning, beginning at 8:00 PM this evening through 5:00 AM tomorrow. The areas around Jamaica Bay to include Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel in the Rockaways, could see two to three feet of inundation. This will be the most flooding we've seen from a winter storm since October of 2018, but it's close to what we see in a normal high tide event other parts of the year. And elsewhere across the city, the National Weather Service has issued some coastal flood advisories for vulnerable shorelines that are seen in the Bronx, Northern Queens, Southern Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
Some of the impacts that we've seen so far, as the Mayor had mentioned, many flights have been canceled already today at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. The New York City Ferry and SeaStreak Ferry have been suspended for today, and Staten Island Ferry is running on a modified schedule. Subway and bus service is running, but I strongly encourage you to check schedules for any delays. They are starting to experience delays, and we'll see that probably increase throughout the day today, so please check the schedules. And other rail operations from LIRR, Metro North, and New Jersey Transit also they're suspending some services or modifying services, so please check schedules before you go out today.
We've seen minimal power outages right now and heat outages at this time, but Con Edison has brought in extra crews. So, they are prepared to respond throughout this event today. And our Emergency Operations Center is activated, will remain active throughout the evening through tomorrow and longer, if needed, to help coordinate the City's response. To close, I'd just like to thank everyone for staying off the roads today and also for taking care of your neighbors, looking out for your neighbors and loved ones as we go through this event today. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor: Thank you so much, Deanne. And, you know, as we speak, the extraordinary men and women of the New York City Sanitation Department are out there clearing our streets, protecting us. We call them New York City's Strongest for a reason, and we really need to support their work. I want people to say thank you – whenever you see a Sanitation worker today, say thank you to them. But even more, what they want from you is clear the way so they can do what they do best. Here to give you an update on this intense mobilization to clear our streets, our Sanitation Commissioner Ed Grayson.
Commissioner Edward Grayson, Department of Sanitation: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As the Mayor said, and as my colleague, Commissioner Criswell said, we are just at the start of this event. During the overnight, we were out there plowing all night long with a full complement of over 700 spreaders in 2,000 plowed vehicles. And we fought about a six-inch snowstorm before daybreak. And now, we have even more coming. The total snowfall amounts are great, as my colleagues have stated, and we are encouraging everyone to please stay off the road. This will be the only way for us to fully complete our mission. And our mission today is to try to keep all roadways passable for all New Yorkers.
Now, I want to make one thing very clear, a passable roadway is not blacktop. In a storm like this, it'll be quite some time before everyone can see blacktop on their street. But make no mistake, we are out there. We are going to come on a slow, methodical approach to hit every street in the city multiple times. I cannot stress that enough, it will take multiple passes during this prolonged period of active snowfall. So, we please ask everyone to heed the guidance and stay off the road.
As the Mayor said, ASP has been canceled today and for the rest of the week. We're going to need that. I would ask all residents once we get out of the active snow fall to think about that when they're out there shoveling. I want them to take extra time and be very safe and cautious while they're out shoveling, while they're out treating their own properties, and looking out for their neighbors, as my colleague said. But, more importantly, this is a heavy snowfall, let's make sure that you're being healthy, taking breaks, etcetera. There's a lot of snow move. We're going to move it off the roads. Be very careful when you're moving it away from your properties.
