Email Body:
Good afternoon AWS Partners,
New York City will experience extremely dangerous cold conditions beginning Thursday night through Monday morning. Overnight wind chill values will be consistently below zero with Sunday, February 15, bringing the coldest temperature the City has seen in decades, with wind chill values reaching as low as -20 (negative 20) degrees. (See the full temperature outlook below and full weather outlook attached). Extremely dangerous winds, with gusts up to 40 MPH on Saturday night and 50 MPH on Sunday will exacerbate the dangerous cold. Please urge clients to stay indoors during these critical times.
In addition to the cold weather, 2-4 inches of moderate snowfall is predicted for Saturday, but up to 6 inches is possible. This combination of precipitation and freezing temperatures may lead to very dangerous travel conditions, including black ice. Please urge your clients to cancel any unnecessary travel during this cold snap. If your clients must travel, please share the attached tips for motorist and pedestrian travel.
TEMPERATURES
� Tonight (Thursday night): Low 8 degrees with wind chill values between -10 and zero degrees.
� Friday: High 16 degrees with wind chill values between -10 and zero degrees.
� Friday night: Low 14 degrees with wind chill values between zero and 5 degrees.
� Saturday: High 28 degrees
� Saturday night: Low 14 degrees with wind chills between -5 and zero degrees.
� Sunday: High 17 degrees.
� Sunday night: High 3 degrees with wind chills between -15 and -20 degrees.
Lastly, during the coldest conditions New Yorkers often turn to space heaters, gas heaters and ovens to stay warm. Please share these home heating tips and carbon monoxide warnings with your clients throughout the weekend:
SAFE HOME HEATING TIPS
Improper use of portable heating equipment can lead to fire or dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Take precautions to ensure you are heating your home safely.
Fire safety tips:
� Use only portable heating equipment that is approved for indoor use.
� Keep combustible materials, including furniture, drapes, and carpeting at least three feet away from the heat source. NEVER drape clothes over a space heater to dry.
� Always keep an eye on heating equipment. Never leave children alone in the room where a space heater is running. Turn it off when you are unable to closely monitor it.
� Be careful not to overload electrical circuits.
� Make sure you have a working smoke detector in every room. Check and change batteries often.
Carbon monoxide safety tips:
� Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and check them regularly to make sure the batteries are working. NYC law requires owners to provide and install at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of the primary entrance to each sleeping room.
� Make sure your heating system is kept clean and properly vented; have worn or defective parts replaced.
� Kerosene heaters and propane space heaters are dangerous and illegal in New York City.
� Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
� Never use any gas-powered appliance, charcoal grill, or hibachi indoors.
� Never run a car or truck in a garage or enclosed area. Clear exhaust pipes before starting a car or truck after it snows.
� The most common symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is headache. However, symptoms may also include dizziness, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, people can become increasingly irritable, agitated and confused, eventually becoming lethargic and lapsing into unconsciousness.
� If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, open windows, leave your home, get to fresh air immediately, and call 911.
What to Do if You Lose Heat or Hot Water at Home
Any New York City tenant without adequate heat or hot water should first speak with the building owner, manager, or superintendent. If the problem is not corrected, tenants should call 311. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will take measures to ensure your heat and hot water is restored.
City Services Dashboard
� Parking: Alternate Side Parking rules are suspended on Friday, 2/13, and Saturday, 2/14
� Senior Centers: Senior centers will remain open. Please call your local center directly before traveling.
For forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service online. http://www.weather.gov/nyc.
More Information
For more helpful tips for staying warm and safe, view NYC Emergency Management's winter weather video at 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 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
Notify NYC is the City of New York's official source for information about emergency events and important City services
The Advance Warning System (AWS) disseminates information to New Yorkers with disabilities and access and functional needs through their service providers. Please share this important information with your clients and other agencies or individuals to empower them to make informed decisions: