Dear AWS partners,
The New York City Emergency Management Department has issued a weather alert from the evening of Tuesday, February 11 through the morning of Wednesday, February 12, 2025, with a winter storm expected to impact the region. About 1 to 2 inches of snow accumulation is expected throughout the city during this time, with a reasonable worst-case scenario of up to 4 inches. Another snow event is currently forecasted for Wednesday night into Thursday, for 0.5 to 1.5 inches of snow. Snow is forecast to transition into a wintry mix and rain Thursday morning and taper off by Thursday afternoon.
NYCEM is asking that AWS service providers take the following proactive steps to ensure the safety of themselves and their clients:
Conduct outreach to ensure clients are aware and prepared for the weather. Help them to prepare if needed. Older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions are most vulnerable.
Encourage staff and vulnerable clients to stay indoors. Consider rescheduling non-emergency appointments and activities. Providers should consider pivoting in-person services to remote where appropriate. Providers should adjust services for clients as needed, including consideration for clients who are homebound and may need access to supplemental meal delivery or medical services. If staff or clients must go outdoors, they should wear dry, warm clothing and cover exposed skin. Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered. Wear a hat, hood, scarf, and gloves. Shivering is an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Shivering is a signal to return indoors.
Cold weather puts extra strain on the heart. Providers and clients should exercise caution when shoveling snow. Those with heart disease or high blood pressure should follow the advice of their healthcare provider.
A stove or oven should never be used to heat a home. Anyone using an electric heater should make sure it is plugged directly into a wall outlet (not an extension cord or power strip) and keep it away from any flammable items (such as clothing). Ensure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and working properly. Heat or hot water complaints should be directed to landlords and building management. If the problem is not resolved, complaints can be submitted to 311.
Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation whenever possible. Expect delays with little to no notice, especially during times when snow is expected to be heaviest. Staff or clients who use paratransit or car services should prepare for the possibility of longer wait and ride times.
Drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible. Wet roadways may freeze, causing icy and dangerous road conditions.
Always be prepared for potential power outages. If an outage occurs, turn off all appliances, keep refrigerator/freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage, and do not use generators indoors. Clients who use life sustaining equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance should dial 911.
Report outages, downed power lines, and damaged electrical equipment to power providers immediately. Con Edison’s 24-hour hotline is 800-75-CONED (752-6633) (TTY: 800-642-2308). Outages can also be reported online on Con Edison's website. National Grid’s 24-hour hotline is 718-643-4050 (TTY: 718-237-2857). PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour hotline is 800-490-0025 (TTY: 631-755-6660)
Report downed trees and damaged tree limbs to 311; if there is immediate danger, call 911.
Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the city will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language (ASL). Sign up for emergency notifications online or call 311 and encourage clients to do so as well.
Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping New Yorkers safe.