New York City authorities have imposed sweeping travel restrictions as a powerful blizzard approaches the region. The mayor ordered a ban on most movement across the city from 9pm on Sunday until noon on Monday, citing serious public safety concerns. Public schools will be closed on Monday, with no remote learning in place, while non-essential city offices and services, including libraries, will also shut temporarily.
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The measures mark the second major snowstorm faced by the current mayor since taking office at the start of the year. His handling of winter weather has drawn close scrutiny, particularly following criticism of the use of online learning during a January storm. This time, the closure of schools was announced as a traditional snow day, with officials urging residents to remain indoors during the worst conditions.
Public transport and essential services are also being affected. The Staten Island ferry service is due to be suspended from Sunday evening and is expected to resume late on Monday morning. A state of emergency has been declared, with thousands of snow ploughs and sanitation staff deployed to clear streets once snowfall reaches designated levels. City officials stressed that all departments are coordinating to respond as quickly as possible.
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A significant focus of the preparations is support for homeless residents, who accounted for a large proportion of deaths during the previous winter storm. Emergency shelter capacity has been expanded, warming centres extended, and outreach teams redirected to prioritise vulnerable individuals. Authorities confirmed that planned encampment clearances have been paused during the severe weather, with efforts centred on moving people indoors and reducing the risk to life.
