New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his appointment of Christina Farrell as commissioner of New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), the agency responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning, response and recovery.
"New York City faces extraordinary challenges, and meeting them demands steady, experienced leadership. There is no one better prepared to lead NYCEM than Christina Farrell. Over three decades in public service-and in recent years as First Deputy Commissioner-she has helped guide our city through crisis after crisis with clarity and resolve. I'm proud to work alongside Commissioner Farrell to strengthen our preparedness and protect every New Yorker," said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.
"I'm honored to be appointed Commissioner of NYCEM, an agency that protects 8.5 million New Yorkers when they need us most, and to continue serving alongside the dedicated professionals who do this work every day," said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. "I'm grateful to Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the opportunity to lead this exceptional team into a new era for our city. The Mayor's vision is to deepen what New Yorkers expect from government and deliver with excellence, accountability, and integrity. For emergency management, that means ensuring preparedness reaches every neighborhood, that our response is coordinated and effective, and that New Yorkers can trust we'll be there when crisis strikes. Together with our partners across government and the community, we'll build the resilient, prepared city that New Yorkers deserve."
"Commissioner Farrell's three decades of experience, including 23 years at NYCEM, equip her with the knowledge and vision to guide New York City through any emergency," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. "After helping lead New York through a number of crises, we know Commissioner Farrell will bring a multidimensional approach to emergency preparedness and responsiveness, and I look forward to continuing our work with her to protect the millions of people who call our city home."
"For more than two decades, Christina Farrell has guided New York City through countless emergencies with clear, decisive leadership," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "From Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic to extreme heat emergencies and major blackouts, she has managed complex crises with a steady hand and ensured our communities have the resources they need. New Yorkers are lucky to have her at the helm of NYCEM, and I look forward to continuing our important work together."
"For more than three decades, Christina Farrell has been a steady hand and calming presence during our City's most challenging days. I am so excited that she's taking the well-deserved reins as head of NYCEM, and look forward to continued partnership in the days ahead," said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
"Few people in city government, if any, know more about emergency management response, and the complex interagency dynamics that response entails, than Christina Farrell," said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. "When disaster strikes, it is our partners at New York City Emergency Management that take the lead on making sure all of the moving parts in government are working together to best protect and serve the public. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Christina for years, and New Yorkers should rest easy knowing that that such a competent, experienced and dedicated public servant will be in charge of these critical operations."
"Christina Farrell is a proven leader with deep experience in emergency preparedness and response, and she understands firsthand what it takes to keep New Yorkers safe during increasingly complex and climate-driven events," said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. "We look forward to continuing our close partnership with NYCEM to strengthen storm response, advance long-term resilience, and ensure our infrastructure and communities are prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead."
"When it comes to the way our City prepares for and responds to disasters, there is no one with more experience than Commissioner Farrell, and in the years we have worked together, I have seen her leading more command centers, joint operations, and comprehensive after-action reviews than I can count. NYCEM staff are among the first on scene in difficult times, and I know she has the expertise and creativity to lead this critical agency and keep our City safe," said Javier Lojan, Acting Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation.
"Commissioner Farrell's steady leadership and deep institutional knowledge will strengthen our city's ability to safeguard communities before, during, and after emergencies," said NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. "Public health and emergency management go hand-in-hand, especially in moments of crisis. Commissioner Farrell's commitment to preparedness and coordinated response will ensure our efforts center equity and protect all New Yorkers, even when dealing with emergencies."
About Christina Farrell
Farrell is a lifelong public servant who has served as first deputy commissioner of NYCEM since October 2021. In that position, she led the City's emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts, working closely with City leadership and regional, state and federal partners on emergency management matters.
Farrell has led the city through some of the most complex crises of the past two decades, including the 2003 citywide blackout, Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since joining the agency in 2003, as its first director of grants, Farrell created the agency's external affairs division, serving first as assistant commissioner and then as deputy commissioner. In those roles, she oversaw programs including Community Emergency Response Teams and Ready New York, a public education initiative and strengthened partnerships with elected officials, community organizations, neighborhood leaders and private and nonprofit sector partners.
Farrell began serving the City of New York in 1994 as a coordinator in the Mayor's Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator. She also served as the deputy director of the NYC High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and the deputy director and director of the Mayor's Office of Grants Administration, where she worked on the creation of the Twin Towers Fund after 9/11.
