City expands efforts to keep New Yorkers safe and warm
Code Blue begins at 4 p.m.; expected lows of 17 to 20 degrees, with wind chills as low as 8 degrees
TODAY, in preparation for a temperature drop of up to 20 degrees beginning early Sunday evening, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced expanded efforts to connect homeless New Yorkers to warmth and safety and to raise awareness about the dangers of the latest cold snap.
The City will increase the number of WARM (Winter Access, Relief and Medical) ambulettes and mobile units operating through Saturday, March 14. The mobile warming outreach initiative will provide clinical consultations and distribute essential supplies, including blankets, warm clothing, socks, hot meals and water. Units will also transport unsheltered New Yorkers to a warm location of their choice, including shelters or warming centers.
The City will open warming centers at Department of Education (DOE) schools, deploy additional warming buses and continue the 311-to-911 diversion during the Code Blue. The City is deploying 500 outreach workers, including staff from the Department of Social Services (DSS), the New York City Health Department and New York state agencies. Outreach will focus on areas with high concentrations of homeless New Yorkers, informed by lessons learned from previous cold weather events.
Mayor Mamdani also directed City agencies to ensure appropriate warnings are provided to shelter residents. Overdose Prevention Centers will remain open overnight Sunday. Peer outreach teams – pairing outreach workers with formerly homeless New Yorkers – will continue encouraging people to come indoors. Several syringe service drop-in centers will also remain open overnight from March 1 through March 4.
With possible light snow over the northern half of the city Sunday morning into early afternoon, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a Winter Operations Advisory beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday, March 1. A Winter Operations Advisory is the Department’s “lower-level” snow response, as opposed to a Snow Alert.
While sanitation crews have cleared more than 20 inches of snow that fell last week, piles remain in some areas, and colder temperatures may create icy conditions. More than 700 salt spreaders, including specialized bike lane spreaders, are filled and ready. The department will continue coordinating from its Snow Command Center, using the new Bladerunner 2.0 tracking system.
After any snowfall, property owners are responsible for clearing a 4-foot path on adjacent sidewalks to allow safe passage for pedestrians, including people using wheelchairs and strollers. For updates, follow DSNY on social media or call 311.
“Warmer weather is finally on the horizon, but temperatures will drop sharply Sunday night and remain low through the start of the week. After an already frigid winter, we know what works to keep New Yorkers safe – and we are building on those efforts now,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Every New Yorker deserves warmth and dignity. Be safe. Check in on your neighbors. And if you see someone who needs help, please call 311.”
“City agencies, workers and community partners have been working side by side all season to keep our neighbors warm, our streets clear and our city moving. This cold snap requires the same coordination and vigilance. From deploying hundreds of salt spreaders to de-ice our streets, sidewalks and bike lanes to mobilizing hundreds of homeless outreach workers, we are prepared. As temperatures drop, please be prepared, be safe and be on the lookout for emergency alerts,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 f
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) urges New Yorkers to follow these safety tips:
- Place space heaters safely at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Turn them off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Plug heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use extension cords or damaged cords.
- Never use ovens or gas ranges to heat your home. This can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
- Check on neighbors during extreme cold, especially older adults and people with preexisting health conditions.
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them at least once a month.
- Prepare for winter emergencies by stocking flashlights, batteries, nonperishable food and bottled water. Create a family emergency plan so everyone knows what to do during a fire or severe winter storm.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) warns that infants, seniors and people with paralysis or neuropathy face increased risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Check on friends, relatives and neighbors who may need assistance.
Signs of hypothermia include slurred speech, sluggishness, confusion, dizziness, shallow breathing, unusual behavior and a slow or irregular heartbeat. Signs of frostbite include gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness and skin that feels waxy.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help homeless New Yorkers can sign up for this year's HOPE count, which begins Tuesday, March 10. The annual HOPE count is the City’s effort to engage and count New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Volunteers will canvass streets, subways and public spaces alongside outreach teams to ensure everyone is seen and counted. Learn more about how HOPE helps New Yorkers and register to volunteer here: https://
