NYCHA Activates Situation Room, Increases Staffing In Advance Of Anticipated Cold Snap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2019

NYCHA ACTIVATES SITUATION ROOM, INCREASES STAFFING IN ADVANCE OF ANTICIPATED COLD SNAP

Authority staff prepares for nearly weeklong extreme cold weather with robust preparations, including strategic pre-positioning of mobile boilers citywide

NEW YORK – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) activated its Situation Room to centralize its efforts in advance of expected extreme low temperatures citywide between Monday evening and Friday.

As with previous responses this heating season, NYCHA’s additional heating response teams are on hand to ensure any interruptions to heat or hot water services are addressed quickly and efficiently.

NYCHA developments will be fully staffed by both development staff and third-party partners to proactively monitor heating infrastructure, and emergency staff will be on call to address any heat-related service interruptions. Four mobile boilers are also pre-positioned around the City for rapid installation in case any extreme issues arise at NYCHA developments.

“We stand at the ready to respond to any service interruptions our residents may face during this week’s cold weather event,” said NYCHA General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo. “We continue to ask our residents to report any issues they face by either using the MyNYCHA app or calling the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 so that we can better respond to any interruptions.”

The Authority’s heat staff continues to work seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. through the end of heating season, and its heat desk staff remains on call 24/7 to respond to any service interruptions. NYCHA also prepared for this week’s extreme cold weather by:

Increasing heating response teams from Monday through Friday, with teams working day, evening, and overnight shifts. The number of roving teams will be doubled during overnight shifts, and will be dispatched across the city as needed;
Increasing skilled trades staff — including plumbers, electricians and carpenters — on-call to assist with heating response;
Strategically positioning NYCHA’s four emergency mobile boilers for quick deployment if any development faces an extreme service interruption;
Adding at least 10 percent more staff at the Customer Contact Center from Monday, March 4 to Friday, March 8 starting at 6 a.m. through midnight to accommodate higher call volume.
Opening one warming center in every borough to NYCHA residents experiencing heat issues from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8.
Highbridge Senior Center in the Bronx
Brownsville Senior Center in Brooklyn
Taft Senior Center in Manhattan
Bland Senior Center in Queens
Gerard Carter Center in Staten Island

The Authority also triggered its Incident Command System (ICS) and Situation Room in Long Island City, where personnel from its Emergency Management, Operations, Heating, Maintenance, Repair and Skilled Trades, Community Engagement & Partnerships, Capital, and other departments will centralize NYCHA’s efforts as well as coordinate response and resources.

This week marks the tenth activation of NYCHA’s improved Situation Room during the 2018-2019 heating season, during which heat and hot water services have been restored in 10 hours on average, compared to 32 hours at this time last year.

The improvements are in keeping with the Authority and the de Blasio administration’s commitment to enhancing NYCHA’s response to heat-related issues, which include increased staffing, improved resident communications, and investments in heating infrastructure.

Anyone experiencing issues in their developments should create a work order ticket by using the MyNYCHA app or by calling the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771.

About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

NYCHA’s mission is to increase opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers by providing safe, affordable housing and facilitating access to social and community services. Over 390,000 New Yorkers reside in NYCHA’s 316 public housing developments and PACT/RAD developments formerly managed by NYCHA around the five boroughs. Over 190,000 receive subsidized rental assistance in private homes through the NYCHA-administered Section 8 Leased Housing Program. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycha, and for regular updates on NYCHA news and services, connect with us via  www.facebook.com/NYCHA and www.twitter.com/NYCHA.

Press Release

About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)