“Everybody talks about the weather, but no one ever does anything about it.” — Mark Twain. Well, actually, it wasn’t Twain that said it; the much less famous Charles Dudley Warner did. And while this email may not do anything about weather directly, I’m sending it, and maybe you’ll be the one who does.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect, and a State of Emergency has been declared for the entire state, reflecting the anticipated severity and scope of this storm. Before going further, and since the charter hasn’t changed to grant community boards any emergency powers, a reminder to use 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergency issues. I'll also note that our Landmarks Committee met last night (Thursday)and approved the lone item on the agenda, which was an application to allow a rear-yard extension at 10 Prospect Place. The application now heads to a vote at our February full board meeting.

The snow I’m referring to is expected to hit the fan; in this case, the fan is the city, on Sunday, January 25th, beginning sometime in the morning. Snow is expected to intensify throughout the day, with six or more inches accumulating citywide. Winds will be gusty, roads will be icy, visibility will be limited, and there’s a high likelihood of refreeze after snow stops falling, along with possible power outages.

Plenty of cancellations and closings have already been announced for Sunday. For example, all Brooklyn Public Library branches will be closed, as will other regular happenings, like the Park Slope Farmers Market. markets. This should be read as “don’t plan to go outside on Sunday unless you absolutely have to.” Stay put if you can, avoid driving, and leave the roads to emergency and essential vehicles. For what it’s worth, the MTA doesn't plan to suspend subway or bus service, so transit is expected to be available if needed. Check here for service updates.

A Code Blue has been declared due to freezing temperatures. If you see someone at risk, especially individuals living on the street, please call 311 so an outreach team can respond. Shelter is available citywide.

At this time, there is no change to the New York City public school schedule. To be clear, as the Mayor noted, Monday would not be a traditional “snow day.” If conditions warrant a change, the question would be whether instruction is in person or virtual. Schools Chancellor Samuels has said that the Department of Education has tested and expanded its systems and now has the capacity to support more than a million users logging in within a minute, should a shift to remote learning be necessary. Families should continue to monitor official NYC Public Schools communications for updates.

I’ll stop here and suggest that you scroll down and read the rest. Whether you read, scroll, or stop, stay warm and stay safe.

Mike Racioppo, District Manager

Brooklyn Community Board 6

250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 

e. Mike@bkcb6.org