Cold Snap in New York Claims 13 Lives Due to Hypothermia

New York City has recorded 13 deaths attributed to hypothermia as a severe cold snap has gripped the city and several areas in the United States since January, raising concerns about the impact of extreme weather conditions on vulnerable populations.

Warnings of Historic Cold Snap

Mayor Zehran Mamdani stated that the city may be facing its longest continuous period of sub-zero temperatures, noting that the current cold snap has resulted in 16 fatalities, with hypothermia identified as a primary factor in 13 cases. The remaining three deaths were linked to drug overdoses.

Emergency Measures to Protect Residents

Mamdani confirmed that local authorities have activated an emergency plan, which includes opening heating centers and deploying a fleet of 20 vehicles staffed with medical and social teams to assist at-risk residents. He mentioned that the city has conducted over 930 outreach operations to shelters and safe centers, and forcibly relocated 18 individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others due to their health or living conditions.

Concerning Trends in Cold-Related Death Statistics

Official data indicates that the number of cold-related deaths in New York has risen in recent years, fluctuating between 9 and 27 cases annually from 2005 to 2020, reaching 34 cases in 2021 and escalating to 54 cases in 2022. This trend reflects the increasing impact of extreme weather phenomena on the city.