Email Body:
Good afternoon AWS Partners,
The Advance Warning System disseminates information to New Yorkers with disabilities and others with 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.
Due to deteriorating road conditions and poor visibility, New York City & State have issued a road travel ban as of 2:30 pm.
NYC Transit and MTA Bus service will begin a shut-down of all local, limited and express bus service at NOON. Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and above ground NYC Subway service will begin an orderly shutdown at 4:00 p.m. due to deteriorating weather conditions and concerns for customer and employee safety. Access-A-Ride service will also be suspended in an orderly manner; no new trips will be scheduled but clients who have traveled today on an outgoing trip will receive service to get back home.
The Winter Weather Emergency Declaration for NYC from Saturday, January 23, 2016 remains in effect until midnight. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Blizzard Warning for New York City from Saturday 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service has also issued a Coastal Flood Warning from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. 20-25" total snow accumulation is expected by the end of the storm. Winds will be 15-25 mph sustained; with gusts up to 40 mph.
To report any hazardous conditions (including on sidewalks or roadways), call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or visit NYC.gov/311. General storm information and status updates are also available by texting 311-NYC (311-692), the 311 Mobile App, and @NYC311 on Twitter. 311 is available 24 hours a day and provides translation services for up to 180 languages. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Travel Safety Tips:
New Yorkers are encouraged to take the following precautions:
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.
- Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs.
- Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.
Safe Home Heating Tips
- 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.
Check on your neighbors, friends, and relatives - especially the elderly and those with disabilities and access and functional needs. People most likely to be exposed to dangerous winter weather conditions include those who lack shelter, work outdoors, and/or live in homes with malfunctioning or inadequate heat. Seniors, infants, people with chronic cardiovascular or lung conditions, people using alcohol or drugs, and people with cognitive impairments such as from dementia, serious mental illness or developmental disability, are at increased risk.
More Information:
For more helpful tips for staying warm and safe, view NYC Emergency Management's public service video announcement, or visit NYC.gov/EmergencyManagement. 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.
For more information about keeping Pets safe during a snowstorm please see this information from the ASPCA.
NYC Emergency Management Human Services Unit:
Human Services email distribution list: humanservicesesf@oem.nyc.gov
Humans Services ESF Desk 718-422.8801
Christopher Pagnotta
Advance Warning/Community Outreach Specialist
Cell: 347-578-1485
cpagnotta@oem.nyc.gov
Sonia Ajwani
Human Services Emergency Support Function Coordinator
Cell: 347-266-0204
sajwani@oem.nyc.gov
Roseann Mastrandrea
Human Services Emergency Support Function Coordinator
Cell: 646-628-7754
rmastrandrea@oem.nyc.gov