AOC Offers Advice On Preparing For Expected Weekend Winter Storm

This weekend, the east coast is expected to be hit with a severe storm with heavy snow and gusty winds. All winter weather information can be found by calling 311 or visiting the City’s Severe Weather website here.

New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can sign up to receive phone calls, text messages, and email alerts about severe weather events and emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit www.nyc.gov or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

We’ve also listed some tips below to help you prepare for the storm:

• Listen to your local radio and TV stations for updated storm information. Know what winter storm watches and warnings mean.
• Check on relatives, friends, and neighbors who may need assistance preparing for a storm.
• Prepare for power outages: Charge your mobile devices, and be sure to have a flashlight, hand-crank or battery-operated AM/FM radio, and extra batteries on hand. Turn refrigerators/freezers to a colder setting.
• Be alert to changing weather conditions.
• Let faucets drip a little to help prevent freezing.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Find more information here

If you lose heat, take measures to trap existing warm air, and safely stay warm until heat returns:

• Insulate your home as much as possible. Hang blankets over windows and doorways and stay in a well-insulated room while power is out.
• Dress warmly. Wear hats, scarves, gloves, and layered clothing.
• If you have a working fireplace, use it for heat and light, but be sure to keep the damper open for ventilation.
• Open your faucets to a steady drip so pipes do not freeze.
• Eat. Food provides your body with needed energy to produce its own heat and drinking helps your body avoid dehydration.
• If the cold persists and your heat is not restored, call family, neighbors, or friends to see if you can stay with them.

If your service line, pipes, or water meters freeze:

• Open a faucet near the frozen point to release vapor from melting ice.
• Direct a hair dryer or heat lamp at the frozen section, or put a small space heater nearby.
• *Never* thaw a frozen pipe or meter with an open flame; this could lead to fire or cause a steam explosion.
• If your meter is damaged or your pipes burst, call 311.

If you lose power, call your power provider immediately to report the outage.

• Con Edison: 1-800-752-6633 (TTY: 1-800-642-2308)
• National Grid: 718-643-4050 (TTY: 718-297-2857)
• PSEG Long Island: 1-800-490-0025 (TTY: 631-755-6660)

Sign up for text notifications: Go to coned.com/text or text REG to OUTAGE (688243). Please note, you will need your Con Edison account number to complete registration.

Click here to view the outage map or to learn more about service restoration.

During an outage:

• Stay clear of downed power lines.
• Turn off all appliances.
• Keep refrigerator/freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage.
• Do not use generators indoors.
• If you have a disability/access needs, or use life-sustaining equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance, call 911.

If you’ll be using public transit during the storm, keep in mind that the trains are running on a modified schedule. Visit the MTA website or the MyMTA app for the latest service information and alternative service options. You may also sign up for email and text alerts here and can call 511 for service related information and customer service.

Banner Image: Blizzard. Image Credit – TheDigitalArtist

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

In January of 2019, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez was sworn-in as the youngest woman and youngest Latina ever to serve in Congress. Her first piece of legislation was the Green New Deal resolution, which envisions a 10-year national mobilization, akin to FDR’s New Deal, that would put millions to work in good-paying, union jobs repairing the nation’s infrastructure, reducing air and water pollution, and fighting the intertwined economic, social, racial and climate crises crippling the country.