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NEW YORK. CITY HALL.
By Jacques Dussek, Romy Dussek and Jean Dupiton
2007
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MAYOR
BLOOMBERG PUBLIC SCHEDULE.
9:00 AM Hosts 2nd Annual Breakfast in Honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.
City Hall Council Chambers,
MANHATTAN
10:30 AM Speaks at 18th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.
Brooklyn Academy of
Music (BAM) Howard Gillman Opera House
30 Lafayette Avenue
between Ahsland Place and St. Felix Street, BROOKLYN
11:30 AM Speaks At The Third Annual Institute for Civic Leadership
Dare to Dream
Conference
The American Museum of Natural History, Kaufman Auditorium
77th Street between Columbus Avenue & Central Park West, MANHATTAN
12:30 PM Speaks at Baptist Ministers' Conference of Greater New York
Martin Luther
King, Jr. Worship Service, Convent Avenue Baptist Church,
420 West
145th Street at Convent Avenue, MANHATTAN
1:15 PM Attends National Action Network Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Leadership Panel
Cannan Baptist Church,
132 West 116th Street. MANHATTAN
MAYOR
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCE
OPENING OF TEMPORARY WARMING CENTERS
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that due to the unusually
extreme
temperatures and the number of homes that have been without heat, the
City
in partnership with the American Red Cross, will open a temporary
warming
center in each of the five boroughs for a limited period during the
cold
weather emergency. For more information about warming centers,
residents
should call 311.
"The City is opening warming centers for New Yorkers who are
without
heat in their building to help them get through this severe cold
spell,"
said Mayor Bloomberg. "The Office of Emergency Management along with
the
American Red Cross will run these centers starting at 4:00 p.m.
and
they will operate much like the temporary cooling centers we operate
in the
summer. These will be places for people that do not have heat in
their
building, have no other options like going to a neighbor or family
members
house, and need a place to warm up."
"In light of the exceptionally cold weather, the City is opening
warming
centers for those without heat," said Calvin Drayton, acting OEM
Commissioner. "We urge all New Yorkers to take necessary steps to stay
warm
and safe during this period of cold temperatures."
The City strongly recommends those without heat stay with friends or
family
if possible. For residents without heat who have no other options,
five temporary warming
centers will be open as of 4 p.m. at the following locations:
* Bronx: Adlai Stevenson High School, 1980 Lafayette Avenue
* Brooklyn: Paul Robeson High School, 150 Albany Avenue
* Manhattan: City College, 181 Convent Ave.
* Staten Island: Michael J. Petrides High School, 715 Ocean
Terrace
* Queens: Grover Cleveland High School, 2127 Himrod St.
About Warming Centers
* City-run warming centers will be set up at select schools and
universities. If possible,
bring clothing, bedding,
bathing and sanitary supplies, special food and pre-filled
prescriptions and other
medications to warming centers.
* Alcoholic beverages, firearms and illegal substances are not
allowed in warming
centers.
* You cannot bring pets to warming centers. Only service
animals are allowed.
* Cooperate with center managers and other people in order to
make a difficult situation
less stressful.
Tips for Staying Warm
The City recommends all New Yorkers heed the following cold weather
safety tips to ensure they are adequately protected. Exposure to cold
can cause life-threatening health conditions. Avoid serious conditions
such as frostbite and hypothermia, by keeping warm.
* Wear a hat, hood or scarf, as most heat is lost through the
head.
* Wear layers, as they provide better insulation and warmth.
* Keep fingertips, earlobes and noses covered if you gooutside.
* Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it.
Safe Home Heating Tips
Improper use of portable heating equipment can lead to fire or
dangerouslevels of carbon monoxide. Take precautions to ensure you are
heating your home safely.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
* Make sure all fuel-burning items - such as furnaces, boilers,
hot water heaters, and
clothes dryers - are
operating properly, ventilated and regularly inspected by a
professional in order to
prevent unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning.
* If you have a working fireplace, keep chimneys clean and
clear of debris.
* Never turn on your oven to heat your kitchen, or operate gas
or charcoal barbecue grills
kerosene- or oil-burning heater
in an enclosed space.
* Common signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache
dizziness, chest pain,
nausea.
* If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911, and
getthe victim to fresh air
immediately, and open
windows.
* Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector.
Fire Safety
* Use only portable heating equipment that is approved
forindoor use.
* Keep combustible materials, including furniture, drapes,
andcarpeting at least three
feet away from the heat
source. NEVER drape clothes over a space heater to dry them.
* Always keep an eye on heating equipment. Never leave children
alone in the room
where a space heater is
running. Turn it off whenyou are unable to closely monitor it.
* Be careful not to overload electrical circuits.
* Make sure you have a working smoke detector in every
room.Check and change
batteries often.
What to Do If You Lose Heat
Every resident is entitled to heat and hot water. Tenants without
adequate heat or hot water
should first speak with the building owner, manager, or
superintendent. If the problem is not
corrected, tenants should call 311. The Department of Housing
Preservation and Development (HPD) will attempt to contact your
building's owner to get heat or hot water service restored.
If service has not been restored, HPD will send an inspector to your
building to verify the complaint and issue a violation. If your
landlord does not live up to his or her legal obligation, HPD will
call in emergency contractors to fix the boiler or do whatever is
required to get your heat and hot water working again. If you lose
heat, take measures to trapexisting warm air, and safely stay warm
until heat returns:
* Insulate your home as much as possible. Hang blankets over
windows and doorways
and stay in a
well-insulated room while power is out.
* Dress warmly. Wear hats, scarves, gloves and layered
clothing.
* If you have a working fireplace, use it for heat and light,
but be sure to keep the damper
open for ventilation.
* If the cold persists and your heat is not restored, call
family, neighbors or friends to see
if you can stay with
them.
* Open your faucets to a steady drip so pipes do not freeze.
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