[BwayDems] Extreme Cold Weather

[Pat Almonrode]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Senator Liz Krueger <liz at lizkrueger.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 11, 2016 at 3:54 PM
Subject: Extreme Cold Weather

Dear Friend,

In the next few days, New York City will be experiencing extremely cold
temperatures, and city officials are urging residents not to take this
lightly - stay indoors, and if you do go outside dress warmly and keep skin
covered. This very cold weather is already beginning to arrive and is
expected to be with us until Monday afternoon. Temperatures will be
dropping into the single digits, with wind chills as low as 15 degrees
below zero.

Below are some important reminders from the City Office of Emergency
Management. For more information, you can visit
www1.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/winter-weather-health-safety.page. I would also
encourage everyone to check in with family members and neighbors,
especially the elderly, to make sure they are safe from these extreme
temperatures.

Best,

Liz Krueger
State Senator

*Homeless Services*

Anyone who sees a homeless individual or family out in the cold should call
311 immediately and an outreach team will be dispatched to assist them.



*What to Do if You Lose Heat or Hot Water at Home *
Building owners are legally required to provide heat and hot water to their
tenants. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a constant minimum
temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat must be provided
between October 1st and May 31st under the following conditions:

·  Between the hours of 6 AM and 10 PM, if the outside temperature falls
below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68
degrees Fahrenheit.

·  Between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM, if the outside temperature falls
below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55
degrees Fahrenheit.

Any New York City tenant 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 or file a complaint at 311 ONLINE
(http://www1.nyc.gov/311/index.page) for heat and hot water conditions.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will take
measures to ensure that the building owner is complying with the law. This
may include contacting the building's owner and/or sending an inspector to
verify the complaint and issue a violation directing the owner to restore
heat and hot water if appropriate. If the owner fails to comply and does
not restore service, HPD may initiate repairs through its Emergency Repair
Program and bill the landlord for the cost of the work. HPD may also
initiate legal action against properties that are issued heat violations,
and owners who incur multiple heat violations are subject to litigation
seeking maximum litigation penalties and continued scrutiny on heat and
other code deficiencies.



*If You Need Emergency Heating Assistance *
The Human Resources Administration (HRA) administers the federal Home
Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which can help low-income renters and
homeowners with heating bills and other energy expenses. HEAP can help
with:

·  Regular heating bills from a variety of heat sources (even if heat is
included in your rent or you live in subsidized housing)

·  Emergency payments to keep you from losing your heat

·  Replacing damaged furnaces, boilers and heating units

Eligibility for HEAP is based on your household income, family size and
energy costs. If you are homebound and need help with your heating bills,
you can call the NYC Heat Line at 212-331-3150 to arrange a home visit. For
more information, call 311.
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