Efforts to move vulnerable residents indoors are ongoing in New York after at least 14 people have died since the beginning of an intense cold wave, city officials confirmed. The death toll reached 14 on Saturday as temperatures dropped to around 2 degrees Fahrenheit, creating dangerous conditions across the city. Officials noted that New York typically records about 15 cold-related deaths in an entire year, making the current situation especially concerning.
According to preliminary findings from the mayor’s office, hypothermia was a contributing factor in at least eight of the reported deaths during this cold front. Authorities say prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures has posed a serious threat, particularly to people without shelter. The city remains under a Code Blue alert, which requires all shelters to accept anyone seeking warmth, regardless of standard intake rules. The measure is aimed at ensuring that no one is turned away during life-threatening weather conditions. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated on Saturday that, as part of expanded emergency efforts, city teams have involuntarily transported 16 individuals from the streets to indoor facilities to protect them from freezing temperatures.
Officials are urging residents to limit outdoor activity during extreme cold and to contact city services if they encounter anyone who appears homeless or at risk, so they can be safely brought indoors.
