New York City Prepping Salt Spreaders, Plows As Winter Storm Hernando Threatens East Coast
New York City Prepping Salt Spreaders, Plows As Winter Storm Hernando Threatens East Coast
Wyatt Williams Sat, February 21, 2026 at 8:17 PM UTC
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As Winter Storm Hernando gets ready to intensify this weekend in the Atlantic, officials along the East Coast are issuing emergency declarations and urging residents to stay home.
At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the dangers of the storm, particularly the expected massive snowfall on Sunday and the extremely hazardous possibility of icy sidewalks and roads during Monday morning’s commute hours.
He also added the city’s “Code Blue” emergency protocol, which includes expanded outreach and immediate access to shelter for homeless individuals and anyone without heat.
“Let me be clear: No one will be denied shelter in our city,” he said.
The city’s fleet of 700 salt trucks will be deployed, with plow trucks heading out once snow reaches a plowable depth of two inches. The city is currently recruiting emergency snow shovelers, who can sign up online to help clear snow from public areas.
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The New York City Fire Department released a reminder to residents shoveling snow to keep fire hydrants clear. In the case of an emergency, snow-buried hydrants can cause dangerous delays in life-threatening situations.
While impacts in New York City are expected to be severe, meteorologist Jonathan Belles says that much of the East Coast will be facing major impacts.
“Blizzard conditions are likely from Delaware to Massachusetts as Winter Storm Hernando moves by offshore from Sunday into Monday. This will bring strong gusts up to 55 mph, heavy and wet snow, lowered visibility and coastal flooding to coastal areas,” Belles said.
The governor of New Jersey announced a state of emergency, urging all residents to “follow all safety protocols during the storm.”
As the storm arrives in the midst of a particularly cold and harsh winter for the Northeast, local reports are saying that salt supplies are critically low.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
