NYC Emergency Management Issues Travel Advisory Through Monday Morning Rush Hour Commute

Emergency Management


Press Release


For Immediate Release
#58-22

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY MORNING RUSH HOUR COMMUTE

Rain may transition to snow after midnight tonight with possible impacts to the morning commute

December 11, 2022 — The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a travel advisory for Monday. December 12. According to the latest forecast, light rain is expected Sunday with a possible transition to light snow early Monday morning.  Any accumulation could result in snow-covered roads for the Monday morning commute. If precipitation continues after midnight, a total of 0.5 inches of snow accumulation is expected with locally higher amounts of up to one inch possible.

“New York City is preparing for the first potential snowfall of the season. Light snowfall accumulation may cause slippery road conditions and a messy commute on Monday,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We urge New Yorkers to exercise caution. If you travel, please consider the use of mass transit, and allow for extra travel time.”

The New York City Department of Sanitation is pre-deploying salt spreaders in every district to pretreat overpasses, hilly areas, and other locations that may be prone to accumulation ahead of the first snowflake. DSNY is prepared to dispatch plows in all sectors in the extremely unlikely event that more than two inches of snow accumulate.

Safety Tips

Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation.

If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.

Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.

Pedestrians should exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs.

Take care when walking on snow and ice, especially if you are an older adult. Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls.

Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.

Prepare for Power Outages

To prepare for a possible power outage, charge cell phone batteries, gather supplies, and turn your refrigerator and freezer to a colder setting. If you lose power, items that need refrigeration will stay cooler for longer.

If your power goes out, disconnect or turn off appliances that would otherwise turn on automatically when service is restored. If several appliances start up at once, the electric circuits may overload.

Make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios or televisions are working. Keep extra batteries.

If you lose power and have a disability, access and functional needs or use life-sustaining equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance, dial 911.

Do not use generators indoors.

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free app for your Android or Apple device. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

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