NYC Braces for Lethal Temps as Medical Examiner Reveals Details on Winter Storm Deaths
As New York City faces some of the coldest nights of the season, officials are scrambling to prevent further deaths from hypothermia. In a bid to shed light on the early storm-related fatalities, the city's medical examiner has begun releasing details about the deaths.
According to the office, five cases were reviewed so far, with each death attributed to hypothermia caused by exposure to the cold. All of these cases occurred between January 24 and January 26 across four boroughs. In three cases, alcohol or ethanol intoxication was listed as a contributing condition, while in another case, methamphetamines played a role.
The victims' identities remain unknown, but Gothamist has managed to identify some of the deceased through neighbors, friends, and family members. One of those identified is Frederick Jones, 67, who died on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan despite having stable housing nearby. His cause of death was listed as hypothermia with "acute alcohol intoxication" as a contributing factor.
Another victim, Nolberto Jimbo Niola, 52, died on a park bench near 96th Street and 34th Avenue, also due to hypothermia, with "acute ethanol intoxication" listed by the medical examiner's office as a contributing cause.
As the city struggles to cope with the brutal cold, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced increased outreach efforts to prevent further deaths. The mayor described the conditions as "lethal," with lows expected to reach 5 degrees but potentially feeling as low as 20 below zero due to punishing winds.
The city has reopened 10 schools as warming centers and deployed additional workers to do outreach, but coordination between different systems remains a challenge. Gothamist found that nobody at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal early last week knew two of the city's 20 warming buses were parked outside.
Furthermore, reports have surfaced of NYPD officers pushing homeless people out of subway stations or threatening to remove their tents and tarps – even as cold-weather emergency Code Blue was in effect. However, following these reports, the mayor's office has agreed that the police department will no longer force people from subway stations unless they pose a danger to themselves or others.
The city is also facing a surge in complaints about a lack of heat and hot water, with 80,000 reported in January alone. Tenants have made a record number of these complaints, with approximately 37,000 remaining after accounting for duplicates.
As the city struggles to cope with the extreme weather conditions, officials are urging residents to take precautions to stay safe. With temperatures expected to plummet further on Saturday night, the risk of hypothermia remains high – and it is essential that the public takes steps to protect themselves from the cold.
As New York City faces some of the coldest nights of the season, officials are scrambling to prevent further deaths from hypothermia. In a bid to shed light on the early storm-related fatalities, the city's medical examiner has begun releasing details about the deaths.
According to the office, five cases were reviewed so far, with each death attributed to hypothermia caused by exposure to the cold. All of these cases occurred between January 24 and January 26 across four boroughs. In three cases, alcohol or ethanol intoxication was listed as a contributing condition, while in another case, methamphetamines played a role.
The victims' identities remain unknown, but Gothamist has managed to identify some of the deceased through neighbors, friends, and family members. One of those identified is Frederick Jones, 67, who died on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan despite having stable housing nearby. His cause of death was listed as hypothermia with "acute alcohol intoxication" as a contributing factor.
Another victim, Nolberto Jimbo Niola, 52, died on a park bench near 96th Street and 34th Avenue, also due to hypothermia, with "acute ethanol intoxication" listed by the medical examiner's office as a contributing cause.
As the city struggles to cope with the brutal cold, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced increased outreach efforts to prevent further deaths. The mayor described the conditions as "lethal," with lows expected to reach 5 degrees but potentially feeling as low as 20 below zero due to punishing winds.
The city has reopened 10 schools as warming centers and deployed additional workers to do outreach, but coordination between different systems remains a challenge. Gothamist found that nobody at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal early last week knew two of the city's 20 warming buses were parked outside.
Furthermore, reports have surfaced of NYPD officers pushing homeless people out of subway stations or threatening to remove their tents and tarps – even as cold-weather emergency Code Blue was in effect. However, following these reports, the mayor's office has agreed that the police department will no longer force people from subway stations unless they pose a danger to themselves or others.
The city is also facing a surge in complaints about a lack of heat and hot water, with 80,000 reported in January alone. Tenants have made a record number of these complaints, with approximately 37,000 remaining after accounting for duplicates.
As the city struggles to cope with the extreme weather conditions, officials are urging residents to take precautions to stay safe. With temperatures expected to plummet further on Saturday night, the risk of hypothermia remains high – and it is essential that the public takes steps to protect themselves from the cold.
This winter storm is getting outta control! I mean, 5 degrees? That's crazy! We need more warming centers and outreach programs ASAP 
80k complaints about heat and hot water? That's just not right 
. And what's with the NYPD pushing homeless people around? 
Code Blue is in effect, let's use it to help those who need it most 
. We gotta look out for each other during times like this 
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. They should be helping, not making things worse. And don't even get me started on the heat and hot water situation - 80k complaints in January?!?! Is that really necessary? 
! Five people dead from hypothermia and it's like they're just forgotten or whatever. I mean, Frederick Jones was literally living near a stable place but still died because of how cold it was. And the fact that some people were drinking before they died too? It's just not right 
. I mean, come on guys, it's freezing outside! We need to take care of each other right now.
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Mayor's office says "Code Blue" is in effect... but is it just a warm word? 
20 below zero and still no heat for 80k ppl 
Time to bundle up or R U KIDDING ME?! 
and those reports of NYPD pushing homeless people out of subway stations? that's just wrong... can't they see how vulnerable those ppl are? 
Nobody knew those warming buses were outside? What about the people who can't even afford to stay warm? 
. We need to do better, NYC 
. And what's with the police department being told not to push homeless people around? I mean, isn't Code Blue supposed to be about helping them out, not shooing them away? 
ugh i'm literally stressing about this winter storm in nyc they're saying 5 deaths so far & all those were due to hypothermia 
. 80,000+ complaints already this month? That's a huge number considering how many New Yorkers live in poverty 
. The NYPD pushing homeless people out of subway stations was completely unacceptable 
. We need more than just outreach efforts though – we need real solutions to address the root causes of homelessness and poverty 
. I feel for those homeless ppl who are struggling to stay warm, its just not right that they're having to freeze their bums off on the streets 
. Mayor Mamdani needs to step up his game ASAP and make sure everyone has access to heat & hot water 
. I'm all about being prepared tho, so i'm stockpiling warm drinks & snacks at my place 
anyone else doing the same?
5 degrees feels like a whole different world when its actually subzero 
and those police officers need some training on how to deal with homeless ppl 
i feel bad for frederick jones, he had stable housing but still ended up dying from the cold 
️ especially since 80k people have reported a lack of heat and hot water 
its not just about the temperatures, its about making sure ppl are safe and warm 
Mayor Mamdani's efforts to increase outreach is good but we need more resources and coordination 
pushing them out or threatening to remove their tents/tarps when code blue is already in effect is not the solution 
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like who needs 5 degrees when you can have -20 wind chill? anyway, glad they're opening up schools as warming centers, but like, where were these buses parked in the first place if nobody knew about them?