Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP / Getty Images
New York City's prolonged extreme cold spell has now claimed at least 18 lives, as officials continue urgent efforts to bring vulnerable residents indoors.
The New York City medical examiner's office confirmed hypothermia as the direct cause in five deaths, with the condition suspected in several others. The death toll has steadily increased since January 24, with at least 17 New Yorkers having died outside prior to the latest fatality - 13 from hypothermia and three from overdoses.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited a Manhattan warming center on Sunday, February 9, where he met with homeless individuals and thanked volunteers working to bring people in from the dangerous cold. The mayor has consistently urged New Yorkers to utilize warming centers during what meteorologists describe as one of the longest stretches of subzero temperatures the city has experienced since 1960.
"We have been taking every possible measure to get New Yorkers inside. This has been a full all-hands-on-deck approach," Mamdani told reporters recently. The city estimates that approximately 800 homeless people have been moved inside since the cold snap began.
The city declared a "Code Blue" on January 19, which mandates that no one can be denied access to a shelter, prohibits police from forcing people out of the subway system, and activates homeless outreach teams to canvas the streets. Since then, more than 1,100 homeless individuals have been placed in shelters, though only 20 have been involuntarily removed from the streets.
Outreach workers face significant challenges in their efforts. Many homeless individuals resist entering shelters due to concerns about safety, loss of possessions, or past negative experiences.
"One time they stole my bag in the shelter, so I don't use the shelters," said a man who identified himself as John to NPR reporters.
The city has deployed charter buses as mobile warming sites across the five boroughs, though communication about these resources has been inconsistent. Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, who runs a volunteer group assisting homeless people, discovered that many city workers were unaware of the warming buses' locations.
When asked about these communication issues, Mayor Mamdani accepted responsibility, stating, "I think, at the end of the day, that is a responsibility that I have as the mayor of the city. It's never a moment to pass the buck to anyone else."
Meanwhile, the city continues working to reduce snow piles that are obstructing parking spots, bike lanes, and roadways as the frigid temperatures persist. Forecasters predict temperatures will remain below freezing through the weekend.
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