As Winter Storm Hernando gets ready to intensify this weekend in the Atlantic, officials along the East Coast are issuing emergency declarations and urging residents to stay home.<\/p>\n
At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the dangers of the storm, particularly the expected massive snowfall on Sunday and the extremely hazardous possibility of icy sidewalks and roads during Monday morning\u2019s commute hours.<\/p>\n
He also added the city\u2019s \u201cCode Blue\u201d emergency protocol, which includes expanded outreach and immediate access to shelter for homeless individuals and anyone without heat.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me be clear: No one will be denied shelter in our city,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s fleet of 700 salt trucks will be deployed, with plow trucks heading out once snow reaches a plowable depth of two inches. The city is currently recruiting emergency snow shovelers, who can sign up online<\/a> to help clear snow from public areas.<\/p>\n The New York City Fire Department released a reminder to residents shoveling snow to keep fire hydrants clear. In the case of an emergency, snow-buried hydrants can cause dangerous delays in life-threatening situations.<\/p>\n While impacts in New York City are expected to be severe, meteorologist Jonathan Belles says that much of the East Coast will be facing major impacts<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBlizzard conditions are likely from Delaware to Massachusetts as Winter Storm Hernando moves by offshore from Sunday into Monday. This will bring strong gusts up to 55 mph, heavy and wet snow, lowered visibility and coastal flooding to coastal areas,\u201d Belles said.<\/p>\n The governor of New Jersey announced a state of emergency, urging all residents to \u201cfollow all safety protocols during the storm.\u201d<\/p>\n