The NYCHA Journal

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Beat the heat
NYCHA Employees Safety Top Story 

NYCHA Activates Emergency Operations Center for Extreme Heat & Is Ready for 2021 Summer Heat Season

Michael

To keep NYCHA residents safe during extreme heat, NYCHA has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and is coordinating with New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) and other City agencies to inform and protect NYCHA residents, vulnerable individuals, and all New Yorkers. NYCHA’s EOC assists in disseminating information and preparedness and safety messaging to public housing residents and employees, and coordinates response and infrastructure maintenance repairs, where needed.

“Ensuring the health and safety of NYCHA residents is paramount during extreme heat events – which necessitates the importance of close collaboration with the National Weather Service, NYCEM, and other City agencies,” said NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Vito Mustaciuolo. “The Authority will continue to consult with the necessary parties around the latest guidance, resource needs, and preparedness measures as the Summer 2021 Heat Season gets underway.”

The EOC is staffed by members representing NYCHA departments such as Operations; Emergency Services; Technical Services; Elevator Service and Repair; the Customer Contact Center (CCC); Communications; Community Engagement & Partnerships; and Intergovernmental Affairs to ensure comprehensive response and service to more than 380,000 NYCHA residents at 335 housing developments.

Through ongoing communications, NYCHA provides tips for staying safe and cool (nyc.gov/beattheheat) and NYC Cooling Center locations (on.nyc.gov/coolingcenters), as well as information regarding power conservation, excavation safety alerts, and spray cap programs.

NYCHA also amplifies NYC’s Advanced Warning System (AWS) messaging, which provides safety tips and works in close collaboration with providers of services for vulnerable individuals, including persons with access and functional needs. NYCHA’s Family Partnerships and Resident Engagement departments facilitate additional outreach to certain at-risk residents, encouraging them to voluntarily stay indoors and providing information on their nearest cooling center and knowing when to seek medical assistance, if required. NYCHA is also ensuring Tenant Associations receive up-to-date information throughout the heat emergency.

NYCHA has 25 generators on-hand as a contingency measure for power outages during heat events. In addition to the generators, NYCHA has also prepped a range of available equipment, including one light tower, a command bus, an emergency response truck, and a non-potable water truck.

NYCHA has also trained elevator staff in preparation for possible power outages and holds ongoing bi-weekly meetings to disseminate SafeNYCHA advisory information. NYCHA works with City agency partners to ensure that public housing residents are included in all New York City planning and response efforts, including, but not limited to, the Heat Emergency Steering Committee, Advanced Warning System, and the Food Access Lead Team.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/beattheheat and on.nyc.gov/extreme-heat.