NYCC Committee on Public Safety and Sanitation Hold Hearings on Snow Plans and Emergency Protocols; 11/30; 250 Broadway

Dear Neighbor,

Next Wednesday, November 30th, the City Council's Committees on Public Safety and Sanitation and Solid Waste Management will be holding a joint oversight hearing on the borough-based snow plans and citywide winter emergency protocols issued by the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), respectively.

Copies of the DSNY borough-based snow plans are available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dsny/html/snow_plans_mapping/snowplans.shtml, and the OEM Snow Preparedness and Response Report is available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/downloads/pdf/2011snowreport.pdf.

I know snow removal and other snow-related issues are on many people's mind, especially as we edge closer to winter, and anyone who wishes to is more than welcome to attend this hearing.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in the 14th Floor Committee Room at 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.

If you would like to testify, please be sure to register with the sergeant-of-arms on the 14th Floor. Due to increased building security procedures, please bring identification and allot some extra time for entry through the building lobby.

You can also email your written remarks to the Office of Council Member Letitia James at aworthydavis@council.nyc.gov.

If you have any questions about Wednesday's hearing, please feel free to contact my office at (212) 788-7081.

Thanks and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Sincerely,
Letitia James
Chair, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee
NYC Council

CM James: Updates on Hurricane Irene- 35th District Information

The following is information regarding New York City’s preparations for Hurricane Irene, and the recommended steps New Yorkers should take to prepare.



Hurricane Irene is deemed as a Category 3 hurricane (downgraded to Category 2 on Friday), which is presently leaving the Bahamas and heading up the east coast towards Long Island and New York City. Although Hurricane Irene is moving slowly and the forecast remains uncertain, it is expected to hit NYC on Sunday with about 6-12 inches of rain.



According to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), NYC developed a hurricane response plan since 2007 in reaction to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. The plan is available online HERE. OEM is working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the storm. At this time, the Mayor has not concluded that a full evacuation is necessary. Nonetheless, the city is preparing shelters in case of an emergency evacuation, especially for Category 1/Zone A communities (low-lying areas most at risk of flooding). The NYC Health Department and the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation are readily prepared to service elderly and disabled populations if the storm the hits. Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg ordered an evacuation of the hospitals, nursing homes, and senior centers within Zone A.



The Hurricane Evacuation zones can be found HERE. The 35th District overlaps with Zone A. The Brooklyn evacuation sites are listed below--

BOYS & GIRLS HS	1700 FULTON ST.
BROOKLYN TECH HS	29 FORT GREENE PLACE
BUSHWICK HS	400 IRVING AVE.
FRANKLIN K. LANE HS	999 JAMAICA AVE.
CLARA BARTON HS	901 CLASSON AVE.
IS 117	300 WILLOUGHBY AVE.
IS 136	4004 4TH AVE.
IS 187	1171 65TH ST.
PS 189	1100 E. NEW YORK AVE.
IS 246	72 VERONICA PLACE
PS 249	18 MARLBOROUGH RD.
IS 271	1137 HERKIMER ST.
IS 292	300 WYONA ST.
IS 383	1300 GREENE AVE.
JHS 57	125 STUYVESANT AVE.
JOHN JAY HS	237 7TH AVE.
NYC TECHNICAL COLLEGE	300 JAY ST.
ROOSEVELT HS	5800 20TH AVE.

OEM is recommending that New York residents have a "emergency bag" prepared, and that people stock up on supplies in advance of the storm.



The MTA is actively preparing for the impact of Hurricane Irene. The agency is making arrangements to bring in extra personnel over the weekend, preparing facilities and infrastructure by clearing drains, securing work sites against possible high winds, checking and fueling equipment, stocking supplies, and establishing plans to move equipment and supplies away from low-lying areas as needed. Because of the severity of the wind and rain associated with a hurricane, there may be partial or full shut down of services to ensure the safety of customers and employees.

ATTENTION: OEM Opens Citywide "Cooling Centers"

NEW YORK CITY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE COOLING CENTERS WILL BE OPEN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
New Yorkers Urged to Take Precautions During Heat Event

The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today announced that cooling centers will be open in all five boroughs on Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9. According to the National Weather Service, the heat index is expected to exceed 95 degrees on Wednesday and may exceed 100 degrees on Thursday.

Cooling centers are public places, such as Department for the Aging (DFTA) senior centers, libraries and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and Salvation Army community centers where air conditioning is available.

To find the cooling center nearest to you, call 311, or use OEM’s Cooling Center Finder at http://www.nyc.gov/oem.

ATTENTION: Snow Storm Forecasted Friday, 1/21

The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) issued a Hazardous Travel Advisory due to a forecasted snow storm that will cause dangerous travel conditions for Friday, January 21st. The National Weather Service has forecast between 3-6 inches of snow during the night of Thursday, January 20th. OEM strongly recommends that people use mass transit and avoid driving during and immediately after the snow storm.

Alternate Side Parking (ASP) regulations will be suspended Citywide on Friday, January 21 to facilitate snow removal. Payment at parking meters will remain in effect throughout the City.

ATTENTION: Community Notice Regarding Storm

September 17, 2010

Community Notice Regarding Recent Storm
An update regarding last night's severe weather storm, and the specific issue of fallen trees, structural damage, and power outages throughout a number of Brooklyn neighborhoods--

Con Edison, DSNY, FDNY, MTA, NYPD, OEM, and the Parks Department are working to restore power outages and remove downed trees and debris throughout the city. To assist with coordination, OEM deployed Citywide Incident Coordinators (CICs) to certain locations in Brooklyn.

Affected residents should call 311 to report any damage to their homes or businesses sustained from last night's storm. In order to qualify for disaster relief assistance, New York City must estimate the storm's total effect on city residents and employees. Residents should be prepared to answer questions about the extent of their property damage. Residents, if possible, should take photographs any damage prior to debris removal or repair. OEM will continue to monitor the damage from last night’s storm; the agency has opened the City’s Emergency Operations Center. OEM responders are located in the hardest hit areas and there is a command post set up to coordinate field activities. OEM is also working with the National Weather Service and the State Emergency Management Office to assess the damage. The Weather Service will survey the damage to confirm whether a tornado occurred.

Council Member James would like to stress the importance or reporting the building damage and downed trees. This information will be collected and used to determine eligibility for FEMA disaster declarations.

Lastly, Council Member James asks that residents continue to take the following steps wherever necessary:

-Report health and safety emergencies to 911.
-Report structural and tree damage to 311 (including trees blocking streets and roadways).
-Report power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75-ConEd.
-If you have been displaced due to the storm, contact the American Red Cross in Greater New York at (877) 733-2767.

Additionally, Alternate Side Parking regulations are suspended Citywide on Friday, September 17. And, as always, constituents may reach out to the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (718) 260-9191 to assist them in any matter related to the storm.

[Photograph by Benjamin Pasteur]

ATTENTION: OEM Cooling Centers Open Around

Due to the high heat index for the next few days the Office of Emergency Management has opened cooling centers throughout New York City. To find the nearest cooling center, please see here.

Residents can type in their address or cross streets, and a list will be provided of all the cooling centers near their residence.

Stay cool! Ice cold!