Download Emergency Executive Order No. 3
DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
February 22, 2026
WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY DECLARATION
WHEREAS, the public safety is imperiled by a severe snowstorm that is expected to interrupt the flow of traffic, restrict the operation of emergency vehicles and impede the delivery of essential goods and services; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to restrict vehicular traffic as provided herein in order to protect life and property and to allow for rapid and effective snow removal;
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me as Mayor of the City of New York, by the laws of the State of New York and the City of New York, including but not limited to the New York Executive Law, the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, the New York City Charter and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and the common law authority to protect the public in the event of an emergency, I hereby declare a State of Emergency.
Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in section 2 of this Emergency Executive Order, for the duration of the local state of emergency, the streets, highways, bridges, and tunnels in the City of New York are closed for vehicular traffic, including but not limited to commercial trucks, electric bicycles, scooters, and mopeds, effective 9 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, and until 12 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026.
§ 2. The following vehicles may operate on City streets, highways, bridges, and tunnels while the local state of emergency remains in effect:
a. Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses, Access-a-Ride vehicles, and other vehicles used for the purposes of responding to this emergency or other urgent needs by any federal, state or local government agency or any contractor of such agency;
b. Vehicles used by any private agency, organization or group organized and functioning for the purpose of providing fire, medical, ambulance, rescue, housing, food or other services directed toward relieving human suffering, injury or loss of life, or damage to property as a result of an emergency, including non-profit and governmentally-supported organizations;
c. Vehicles used to deliver food, medical supplies, or fuel;
d. Vehicles used by utility companies to perform emergency repairs;
e. Vehicles used to transport persons to and from their places of employment in federal, state, or local government offices; medical facilities; pharmacies; grocery stores (including all food and beverage stores); convenience stores; gas stations; laundromats; news media; food, beverage, and hospitality establishments; hotels and other places of accommodation; and hardware stores;
f. Vehicles used to transport persons to hospitals or other medical facilities for medical care;
g. Vehicles used to transport persons to federal, state, or local court facilities for legal proceedings;
h. Any other vehicles, including for hire vehicles, used to transport persons employed to perform any of the services described in this section to and from their places of employment; and
i. Other vehicles authorized by the City.[1]
§ 3. The Emergency Management, Fire, Police, Sanitation, Social Services, and Transportation Commissioners shall take all appropriate and necessary steps to preserve public safety and to render all required and available assistance to protect the security, well-being and health of the residents of the City.
§ 4. City offices shall be closed to the public for in-person services on Monday, February 23, 2026. Essential City employees shall report to their normal work locations and maintain schedules as determined by their agencies. Where feasible, non-essential employees shall be permitted to telework on Monday, February 23, 2026.
§ 5. New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) buildings, except those used as warming centers, including charter school and private educational facilities co-located in NYCPS buildings shall be closed on Monday, February 23, 2026.
§ 6. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection shall, for the duration of the state of emergency declared in this order, monitor the market for instances of unlawful price gouging consistent with and in furtherance of Section 5-42 of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York, which prohibits price gouging during a state of emergency.
§ 7. Alternate side of the street parking rules shall be suspended on Monday, February 23, 2026. The Commissioner of Transportation shall, if necessary, suspend alternate side of the street parking for additional days to allow for snow removal operations to continue.
§ 8. In accordance with Executive Law §24, any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this order shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
§ 9. This Emergency Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect for five days, except as otherwise limited herein, and unless extended or sooner revoked.
