NYC OEM Issues Travel Advisory for Thursday and Friday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE#1-14

OEM ISSUES HAZARDOUS TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Thursday PM Rush and Friday AM Rush Most Impacted
Blizzard Conditions Possible on Thursday Evening into Friday Morning
Alternate Side Parking Suspended for Thursday

January 1, 2014 — The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) today issued a Hazardous Travel Advisory for late Thursday and Friday. The National Weather Service has forecast 6 to 8 inches of snow accumulation through Friday. Light snow is expected Wednesday evening into Thursday morning with an accumulation of 1-2 inches. Snowfall rates will increase late Thursday afternoon/Thursday evening and continue until Friday afternoon. The strongest winds and heaviest snow will be between the hours of midnight and 7:00 A.M. Friday, accompanied by frigid temperatures. The Department of Sanitation has issued a Snow Alert for Thursday. The plow tracker will be available tomorrow at 6:00 AM at NYC.gov/severeweather. OEM encourages New Yorkers to take the following precautions: 

For Motorists

• If you must drive a vehicle, monitor weather and traffic reports for the latest road conditions.
• Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible as these roadways will be cleared first.
• Drive slowly. Vehicles, including those with 4-wheel drive, take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
• Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in the snow.
• If you get stuck on the road stay with your car and contact a towing company.

For Pedestrians

• Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible.
• Wear layers including a hat, gloves and scarf to stay protected from the cold. And, keep clothes and shoes dry.
• Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.
• Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.

Tips for Staying Warm

Exposure to cold can cause life-threatening health conditions. Avoid serious conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia, by keeping warm.

• Wear a hat, hood, or scarf.
• Wear layers, as they provide better insulation and warmth.
• Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.
• Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it.

Staying in Touch with OEMThe Office of Emergency Management communicates directly with the public through a variety of tools, including Notify NYC. This is just one way the City of New York communicates urgent information to city residents. In addition to sending e-mails, text messages, and phone calls, the emergency notification office has the ability to activate NYC’s Emergency Alert System (EAS), which sends information immediately via television and radio. Residents can also visit Facebook, Twitter, and the agency’s website, nyc.gov/oem for more information. The public can sign up for Notify NYC by calling 311 or going to www.NYC.gov/notifynyc.

MEDIA CONTACT: Christopher Miller/Nancy Greco Silvestri       (718) 422-4888