NEW YORK August 7, 2026 – Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday urged New Yorkers to prepare in advance for extreme heat, heavy rainfall and the peak of hurricane season, as city officials outlined emergency resources and safety measures during an Ethnic and Community Media Roundtable at City Hall.
Mamdani was joined by Ben Krakauer, first deputy commissioner of New York City Emergency Management; Dr. Alister Martin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and Lisa Garcia, commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Officials stressed that extreme heat and severe storms can develop quickly during the summer and encouraged residents to make emergency plans, stay informed and know where to seek help before dangerous conditions arise.
During the question-and-answer session, Ilayas Quraishi of ITV GOLD, News India Times and Desi Talk raised concerns about access to drinking water during extreme heat.
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Quraishi asked whether the city could consider distributing portable drinking-water pouches or similar supplies at subway stations and other heavily used public locations, noting that subway platforms can become particularly hot during heat waves and that commuters may not always have immediate access to water.
Mamdani responded by emphasizing the importance of hydration and the city’s broader efforts to provide water, cooling resources and assistance to New Yorkers during periods of dangerous heat.
City officials advised residents without air conditioning to identify nearby cooling centers in advance and urged New Yorkers to check on older adults and others who may be especially vulnerable to high temperatures.
People living in basement apartments or flood-prone areas were also encouraged to understand their evacuation options and be prepared to move to higher ground when heavy rainfall or flash flooding creates unsafe conditions.
The administration said city agencies are taking preventive measures that include clearing catch basins, staging emergency crews and deploying COOL vans to assist vulnerable residents during extreme heat.
The roundtable also included a live flood kit demonstration led by Beth DeFalco, deputy commissioner at the Department of Environmental Protection. The demonstration highlighted practical steps residents can take to protect their homes and prepare for flooding.
Officials emphasized that emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility and said advance planning can significantly reduce risks during severe weather events.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of ethnic and community media in delivering emergency information to New Yorkers in trusted, culturally relevant and multilingual formats.
Journalists attending the roundtable represented Black, Latino, Spanish-language, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Punjabi, Urdu-speaking, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Indo-Caribbean and other communities across the five boroughs.
City officials said these outlets play an important role in making sure critical safety information reaches communities before, during and after extreme weather events.
The overall message from the roundtable was clear: New Yorkers should prepare before an emergency begins by knowing where to find cooling, drinking water, emergency assistance and safe evacuation routes.