Email Body:
Greetings AWS Partners,
The Advance Warning System (AWS) disseminates information to New Yorkers with disabilities and access and functional needs through their service providers. Please share the important information below with your clients and other agencies or individuals to empower them to make informed decisions:
Light Snowfall and Freezing Temperatures
The combination of an arctic coastal front crossing the area later Wednesday night, February 4, and a wave of low pressure developing along the front to the southeast of Long Island on Thursday will likely bring light snow to the tri-state area late tonight into Thursday afternoon. The snow could mix with rain at times late tonight across NYC, Long Island, and portions of northeast New Jersey. Lows tonight will be near to slightly above normal, and highs on Thursday around 10 degrees below normal. Canadian high pressure then builds over the area on Thursday night and Friday. This will bring a cold and dry air mass to the area, with lows Thursday night ranging from 5 degrees below to 5 above zero, and wind chills from 5 to 15 degrees below zero.
There is another snow event forecast that will potentially impact the City Saturday afternoon through Tuesday morning. Additional accumulations of 2 inches of snow are possible by Saturday evening, with periods of light snow continuing through Monday. Total snow accumulation during this period may be roughly 4-8 inches; however, forecast confidence remains low for weekend conditions. Frozen precipitation is expected, but could vary in terms of timing, intensity, track, type, and totals.
Snow Alert Issued
The NYC Department of Sanitation has issued a snow alert for Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 10 PM. The earlier snow combined with rain, freezing rain and sleet still has the potential to make the roadways slushy and slippery across Metro New Jersey, New York City and Long Island. This will make travel treacherous. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to use extra caution for all vehicular and pedestrian travel.
Temperatures (High/Low)
� Today: 39/28, wind chill values between 20 and 30.
� Thursday: 25/6, wind chill values between 10 and 20 early, becoming zero to -5 late.
� Friday: 21/17.
� Saturday: 37/27.
Winds
� Today: South wind 5 to 11 mph.
� Tonight: South wind 8 to 10 mph.
� Thursday: Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
� Friday: West wind 7 to 14 mph.
Coastal Flooding
� None expected.
Urban Flooding
� None expected.
For forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service online. http://www.weather.gov/nyc.
Travel Safety Tips
New Yorkers are also encouraged to take the following precautions:
For Motorists
� Drive slowly. Posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions. Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
� Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible; these roadways will be cleared first.
� Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they do not stop quicker than other vehicles.
� Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in snow.
� If you get stuck on the road, stay with your car and contact a towing company.
For Pedestrians
� Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible.
� Wear layers including a hat, gloves/mittens, and a scarf to stay protected from the cold. And keep clothes and shoes dry, if a layer becomes wet, remove it.
� Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.
� Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.
� Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.
Cold Weather Safety
Seniors, infants, the homeless and those with chronic medical conditions, such as cardiovascular or lung conditions, people using alcohol or drugs and people with cognitive and mental disabilities are at increased risk of health problems from the extreme cold over the weekend. New Yorkers are advised to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly and those with disabilities and access and functional needs, friends, relatives and clients (if you are a service provider). People most likely to be exposed to dangerous cold include those who lack shelter, work outdoors and/or live in homes with malfunctioning or inadequate heat.
Safety Tips
New Yorkers are also encouraged to take the following precautions:
� Stay indoors as much as possible.
� Report any loss of heat or hot water to property managers immediately, and call 311.
� If homes lack heat, get to a warm place, if possible, and wear extra layers of dry, loose-fitting clothing, hats and gloves to help stay warm.
� Never use a gas stove to heat your home.
� Never use a kerosene or propane space heater, charcoal or gas grill, or generator indoors or near the home.
� When outdoors, wear warm clothing and cover exposed skin. Use multiple layers to maintain warmth.
� Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.
� If you are concerned about someone on the street who may be homeless and in need of assistance, call 311 and ask for the Mobile Outreach Response Team. The Department of Homeless Services will send an outreach team to the location to assess the individual's condition and take appropriate action.
� If your building is cold, check on your neighbors. If you know someone who is vulnerable and lacking heat, help them get to warm places, and notify the building manager and/or call 311 to get heat restored. If you see someone with signs of hypothermia, such as confusion, shivering, slurred speech, and drowsiness, call 911 for help and help the person get warm while waiting for help.
� Homeless Services: Special protocols are in effect when the temperature drops below 32 degrees. No one seeking shelter in New York City will be denied. Anyone who sees a homeless individual or family out in the cold should call 311 immediately and an outreach team will be dispatched to assist them.
More Information
For more helpful tips for staying warm and safe, view NYC Emergency Management's winter weather video, or visit NYC.gov/Emergency Management. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City's free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/notifynyc, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.
NYC Emergency Management (OEM) will continue to monitor this weather system, and the agency's Human Services Unit will keep you updated as the situation develops. If you have any questions or comments during this time, please do not hesitate to contact the Human Services Unit. If you need assistance immediately contact Watch Command at 718-422-8700.
NYC Emergency Management Human Services Unit:
Human Services email distribution list: humanservices@oem.nyc.gov
Johanna Conroy
Director of Human Services
Cell: 917-662-3295
jconroy@oem.nyc.gov
Marianne Jackson
Special Needs Liaison
Cell: 646-335-5693
mjackson@oem.nyc.gov
Eli Fresquez
Special Needs Coordinator
Cell: 347-386-0389
efresquez@oem.nyc.gov
Cynthia Barton
Disaster Housing Recovery Program Manager
Cell: 917-468-2768
cbarton@oem.nyc.gov
Jonas Ballreich
Human Services Emergency Preparedness Specialist
Cell: 347-374-1058
jballreich@oem.nyc.gov
Jay Brandt
Human Services Emergency Preparedness Manager
Cell: 646-596-3147
jbrandt@oem.nyc.gov
Annette Santiago
Director of Human Resources
Cell: 347-534-7028
asantiago@oem.nyc.gov