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‘No one will be turned away,’ Mamdani says as cold grips NYC
“Extreme cold snaps like this are life-threatening,” he said, adding that 10 people have already died after being found outdoors.
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 28, Jan 2026
- 14:22 EST
- 25
Zohran Mamdani / X (Zohran Mamdani)
New York Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said the city remains on high alert amid an extended stretch of extreme cold, warning that the conditions are life-threatening and announcing expanded emergency measures to protect vulnerable residents.
In a video statement release, Mamdani said New York is experiencing “what may be the longest stretch of below-freezing temperatures in recorded history,” even as snowfall has stopped.
Also Read: Winter storm kills dozens as cold lingers in central and eastern U.S
“Extreme cold snaps like this are life-threatening,” he said, adding that 10 people have already died after being found outdoors.
The city continues to operate under an enhanced Code Blue, a cold-weather emergency protocol that mobilizes outreach and shelter services. “We are doing everything in our power to keep New Yorkers safe,” Mamdani said.
Be safe and stay warm, New York. pic.twitter.com/NoUIXZz4Wl
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 28, 2026
Under the enhanced measures, outreach teams are working around the clock to bring unhoused residents into shelters, with nearly 500 placements made since Jan. 19, according to the mayor.
As part of Code Blue operations, 3-1-1 calls involving people in distress are being rerouted to 9-1-1 to speed up emergency response, and traditional shelter intake rules are being bypassed. “Let me be clear, no one will be turned away,” Mamdani said.
The city has also extended the operating hours of outreach vans that transport people to shelters during late-night and early-morning hours and expanded paid overtime for outreach teams.
Mamdani said 10 new warming shelters have been opened since Jan. 23, along with seven additional health centers and 10 warming buses deployed across the five boroughs.
“When it comes to getting New Yorkers out of the cold, we are leaving no stone unturned,” he said, urging residents to call 3-1-1 if they see someone who appears to need help. “Stay safe, stay warm, and look out for your neighbors.”
The cold wave follows a powerful winter storm system that swept across large parts of the United States last week, bringing heavy snow, ice and Arctic temperatures to the Northeast. The storm has disrupted transportation and daily life across the region, with New York City still dealing with its aftermath.
Several city services remain affected by the freeze. NYC Ferry service has been suspended due to heavy ice buildup in the East and Hudson rivers, and officials have warned that the suspension could last several days if conditions do not improve.
Public safety officials and advocacy groups have raised concerns about the rising death toll and the risks faced by people who avoid traditional shelters, even as the city expands emergency measures.
Forecasters have warned that sub-freezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills are expected to continue in the coming days, prolonging the risk to those exposed to the cold.
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