NYCHA Heat Team Preps for Cold Spell
On January 30, NYCHA activated its Situation Room in Long Island City in anticipation of dangerously low temperatures affecting New Yorkers starting Wednesday through Friday.
The Authority’s heating response teams and developments will also be fully staffed to ensure any issues with heat or hot water are addressed quickly and efficiently, continuing NYCHA’s ongoing strategy to proactively monitor its heating infrastructure while quickly deploying necessary emergency staff to address any heat-related service interruptions.
“Our staff is fully prepared to respond to any emergencies that may arise while also working hard to anticipate problems this cold spell may bring — just like we have been throughout this heating season,” said General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo. “We ask our residents to use the MyNYCHA app or call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 with any heat or hot water issues so that we can limit any service interruptions and be the better, more responsive landlord they deserve.”
NYCHA’s heat staff continues to work seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. through the end of heating season, and its heat desk remains on call 24/7 to respond to any service interruptions. NYCHA also prepared for this week’s extreme cold weather by:
- Increasing heating response teams from Wednesday through Friday, with teams working day, evening, and overnight shifts. Roving teams will be assigned to every borough and will be dispatched across the city as needed;
- Adding more staff at the Customer Contact Center from 6 a.m. to midnight on Thursday and Friday to accommodate a higher call volume; and
- Opening one warming center in every borough to NYCHA residents experiencing heat issues from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Additionally, the Authority triggered its Incident Command System and Situation Room in Long Island City, where personnel from the Emergency Management; Heating; Elevators; Information Technology; Maintenance, Repair, and Skilled Trades; and other departments will centralize NYCHA’s operations as well as coordinate response and resources.
Following the extreme cold weather during the MLK holiday, NYCHA’s proactive efforts and robust response to heat and hot water service interruptions have already resulted in services being restored in 10 hours on average, compared to 36 hours at this time last year.
The improvements are in line with the Authority’s and the de Blasio administration’s commitment to enhancing NYCHA’s response to heat-related issues, which include increased staffing, improved resident communications, and investments in heating infrastructure.
Anyone experiencing issues in their developments should create a work order ticket by using the MyNYCHA app or by calling the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771.
