Mayor Mamdani Holds Ethnic and Community Media Roundtable on Extreme Weather Preparedness in New York City

New York By Manzoor Hussain

NEW YORK: Mayor Mamdani convened an Ethnic and Community Media Roundtable on extreme weather preparedness, bringing together representatives of ethnic, community and constituency media from across New York City to discuss ways residents could prepare for extreme heat, heavy rainfall and the approaching peak of hurricane season.

The roundtable focused on emergency preparedness and the resources available to help protect New Yorkers and their communities before, during and after severe weather events. City officials emphasized the importance of planning ahead, staying informed and taking necessary precautions as summer weather conditions could develop rapidly.

Mayor Mamdani was joined at the roundtable by Ben Krakauer, First Deputy Commissioner of NYC Emergency Management; Dr. Alister Martin, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and Lisa Garcia, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

A key feature of the discussion was a live Flood Kit demonstration, led by Beth DeFalco, Deputy Commissioner at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. The demonstration highlighted practical steps residents could take to prepare their homes and families for potential flooding and severe weather.

Officials stressed that high heat and severe storms could develop quickly during the summer months and urged New Yorkers not to wait until an emergency occurred before making preparations.

Residents without air conditioning were encouraged to identify a nearby cooling center in advance and make a plan for staying safe during periods of extreme heat. Particular attention was given to residents living in basement apartments or neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding. Officials advised such residents to understand their evacuation options and be prepared to move to higher ground if weather conditions became dangerous.

The roundtable also emphasized the importance of looking after vulnerable members of the community. New Yorkers were encouraged to check on neighbors who might require additional assistance, particularly older adults and people with underlying health conditions.

City agencies, meanwhile, were taking proactive measures to prepare for extreme weather. These efforts included clearing catch basins, positioning emergency crews in strategic locations and deploying COOL vans to assist vulnerable New Yorkers during periods of extreme heat.

Officials emphasized that while city agencies were taking extensive measures, emergency preparedness remained a shared responsibility between government agencies, community organizations, media outlets and individual residents.

The event also highlighted the important role played by ethnic and community media in New York City. Strong participation was recorded from media outlets serving a wide range of communities, including Black, Latino, Spanish-speaking, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Indo-Caribbean communities, among others.

Officials noted that ethnic and community media played a critical role in delivering potentially lifesaving information to residents in trusted, culturally relevant and multilingual formats. Such outlets were described as an important bridge between city agencies and diverse communities, particularly during emergencies when timely and understandable information could save lives.

The roundtable also reinforced the need for residents to remain informed about weather conditions and official emergency guidance. New Yorkers were encouraged to make emergency plans with their families, identify safe locations, monitor weather updates and ensure that vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbors were prepared for possible emergencies.

The Mayor’s meeting with ethnic and community media underscored the administration’s efforts to ensure that emergency preparedness information reached New Yorkers across the city’s diverse communities. By engaging directly with multilingual and culturally specific media outlets, city officials sought to strengthen communication and ensure that residents received critical information in ways that were accessible and relevant to them.

The full roundtable discussion was also made available through a livestream, allowing New Yorkers and community organizations to review the preparedness information and guidance presented by the Mayor and city officials.

The event concluded with a renewed call for New Yorkers to plan ahead, stay informed and take action before severe weather strikes, while encouraging communities to look out for one another during periods of extreme heat, flooding and other potentially dangerous weather conditions.