By Tiffany Williams –
NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani says New York City is ready for a major snowstorm this weekend expected to drop at least a foot of snow, with some forecasts predicting up to 18 inches. On Friday, Mamdani was briefed on the City Winter Weather Response Plans by senior city officials and state partners at New York City Emergency Management and held a press conference emphasizing that the city has left no stone unturned in its preparations.
The Department of Sanitation began brining highways and major streets Friday to prevent snow and ice accumulation. By Saturday, thousands of collection trucks will be fitted with plows and chains, transforming the sanitation fleet into what Mamdani called “the nation’s largest snow-fighting operation.” About 2,000 sanitation workers will be on 12-hour shifts by Saturday evening, and salting will begin overnight Saturday into Sunday as the first snowflakes hit the ground. Once two inches of snow accumulate, 700 salt spreaders will deploy citywide. Using DSNY’s BladeRunner 2.0 tracking system, the administration will monitor plowing and salting in real time to ensure fair and consistent service across all neighborhoods.
Mamdani said, “[Sanitation workers are] completely in shape and ready for this… Not only for today’s activities, but tomorrow we’re going to see 2,000 sanitation workers start on their 12-hour shifts and we’re going to be transforming what is our typical DSNY operation into nation’s largest snow fighting operation and that’s going to be something we’ll see with plows and chains. As soon as we hit about 2 inches of snow, we’re going to start to see salt being put across the city. We have 700 salt spreaders ready to do this work, and we’re prepared.”
He urged residents to prepare ahead, saying, “The first thing I would say is, if you have anything that you need for this weekend, go out and get it today. Do not wait until Sunday. As much as you can, stay home on Sunday. It is the perfect time to watch terrible reality TV with your family and friends… The second thing I would just say is know that the City is taking every precaution. We have 700 million pounds of snow on hand, of salt on hand to fight the snow, and we’re seeing a city that’s activated every single part of departments and agencies.”
The mayor encouraged New Yorkers to sign up for Notify NYC for real-time updates, adding, “We’re not waiting for people to come to us. We’re going out there making the case to people themselves directly.” He highlighted inter-agency support, noting, “I think the key thing here is we know that DSNY is doing incredible work. We are also having so many different agencies supporting that work, and so, while our Sanitation Department has transformed to the nation’s largest snow fighting operation, we will also have, for example, the Parks Department – is going to be providing assistance with plowing. We’re going also to be seeing so many different public sector workers who are stepping up in the way that they always have, so that this is a weekend that New Yorkers can actually continue to live their lives. And we just asked New Yorkers as much as possible to avoid unnecessary travel.”
The city is bracing for one of the heaviest snowfalls in recent memory, mobilizing thousands of workers, hundreds of vehicles, and millions of pounds of salt to keep streets open and safe. Residents are being urged to stay off the roads and prepare for disruptions.