Latest news with #NYCEmergencyManagement
Time Out
6 days ago
- Climate
- Time Out
An air quality alert has been issued for NYC and parts of New Jersey today—here's what to know
If the sky looks extra hazy over New York today, you're not imagining it—and you might want to think twice before that afternoon jog. The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for New York City and surrounding counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut from 11 am to 11 pm today, June 4. Blame a perfect storm of sunny skies, light winds and rising ozone levels, plus smoke drifting in from ongoing Canadian wildfires, all combining to make the air less than breathable. Air Quality Health Advisory for Wednesday, June 4 Today's AQI is forecast to reach 105 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) due to elevated levels of ground-level ozone. Air quality affects everyone but those who are part of sensitive groups—such as children, older adults, and… — NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) June 4, 2025 Ground-level ozone, a pollutant formed when sunlight interacts with emissions from cars, industrial facilities and chemical solvents, is the culprit today. It's a summertime menace that can irritate lungs, aggravate asthma and make a simple stroll feel like breathing through a wet sponge. Today's alert affects counties along the I-95 corridor, including the Hudson Valley and the five boroughs, along with Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Middlesex in New Jersey, and parts of coastal and central Connecticut. If you're in a sensitive group (think: young kids, seniors, anyone with heart or lung conditions), experts recommend avoiding strenuous outdoor activity during peak hours. Even healthy folks should consider swapping their power walk for a power nap. Smoke from wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan is making matters worse, casting a visible haze across the city skyline and contributing to higher levels of fine particulate matter, another lung-busting pollutant. If your throat feels scratchy or your eyes are watery, it's not just allergy season. Health officials suggest heading indoors if symptoms crop up and monitoring the Air Quality Index (AQI), which ranks air safety from green (good) to maroon (hazardous). Today's levels are expected to hit the orange range—'unhealthy for sensitive groups'—with some pockets potentially climbing higher. To do your part (and protect your lungs), consider leaving the car parked, turning off unused electronics, and running appliances like dishwashers or dryers after 7 pm. If you must turn on the A/C, set it at 78 degrees F to keep your power bill and ozone levels in check.
CNN
18-05-2025
- General
- CNN
Crews are responding to an incident involving a Mexican Navy training ship and Brooklyn Bridge
Crews are responding to an incident involving a Mexican Navy training ship and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York Saturday night, according to the Mexican Navy. 'During the departure maneuver of the Cuauhtémoc Sailboat in New York, an incident occurred with the Brooklyn Bridge that caused damage to the Training Ship, temporarily preventing the continuation of the training cruise,' the Mexican Navy said in a post in Spanish on X. 'The status of the personnel and material is under review by naval and local authorities, who are providing support,' the post added. New York emergency officials said they're responding to an incident at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. 'The situation is developing and details are not confirmed at this time,' NYC Emergency Management said on X. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Time Out
24-04-2025
- Health
- Time Out
NYC and Long Island are under an air quality warning: here is what that means
If you woke up this morning and noticed the skyline looking hazy and the air a little harsher on the lungs, you're not imagining things. A major air quality advisory is in effect today across all five boroughs and Long Island, in response to a massive wildfire burning in southern New Jersey. The culprit is the Jones Road wildfire, which has already scorched more than 13,000 acres in Ocean County and is only 50% contained. With no significant rain expected until later this week, the blaze continues to churn out smoke that's drifting some 60 miles north, right into our city's airspace. According to NYC Emergency Management, the air quality today is classified as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups,' meaning that anyone with asthma, heart or lung conditions, children, the elderly and pregnant individuals should take extra care. If you're in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island—or Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester or Rockland counties outside of the city—you're in the alert zone. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymanagement) So, what should you do? First: Stay inside if you can, especially if you're vulnerable to respiratory issues. Keep your windows shut, skip the candles and incense, and avoid frying food that can worsen indoor air. If you have an air conditioning unit, set it to recirculate air and use a high-efficiency filter. If you're out and about, a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask can help reduce the harmful effects of the particles in the air. The warning comes amid a broader trend: wildfires are making our air worse more regularly than before. A recent study by the American Lung Association found that 25 million more Americans are breathing polluted air compared to the previous year.
