New York issues state of emergency ahead of brutal winter storm



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Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a state of emergency order on Sunday evening due to the monster storm expected to hit New York.

Residents were urged to stay at home during the storm – with all non-essential travel restricted from 6 a.m. on Monday.

“It’s a very dangerous storm,” the mayor said on NY1.

Only those seeking medical treatment or supplies and essential workers – such as first responders, drugstore and grocery store staff, and restaurant and delivery workers – will be allowed to use the roads.

“New Yorkers need to stay home, keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles, and let our plows work to keep us safe,” de Blasio said in a statement.

“Make no mistake: this storm will bring heavy snowfall and make travel dangerous in all areas of our city.”

The storm – dubbed Orlena by the Weather Channel – is expected to dump between 18 and 24 inches of snow on the Big Apple through Monday and Tuesday.

The heaviest snowfall is forecast for mid-morning Monday through evening, with the potential for flakes to descend at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour.

The mixture of heavy snowfall and gusts of wind could result in blizzard conditions.

It would be the first time in at least five years that the city has been covered with more than a foot of snow in a single storm.

De Blasio said earlier on Sunday that coronavirus vaccination appointments scheduled for Monday had been postponed due to the impending storm, with a decision on Tuesday’s appointments yet to be made.

“It will be rescheduled quickly,” he later told NY1 of Monday’s appointments.

“We don’t want people trying to get vaccinated and end up in danger by this weather.”

In-person instruction at the city’s public schools was also dropped on Monday, along with online classes.

Alternate side parking was suspended Monday and Tuesday.



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