10 Perish in NYC's Frigid Cold, Sparking Preparedness Concerns

Mayor Mamdani vows to expand outreach as city grapples with cold-related deaths

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:47pm

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At least 10 people have died in New York City after being exposed to the bitter cold that has persisted since late last Friday, raising questions about the city's preparedness and response to protect its most vulnerable residents. The victims, some of whom were believed to be homeless, showed signs of hypothermia, and officials said the city has mobilized additional resources like homeless outreach workers and warming centers, but advocates argue more could have been done to prevent these tragic deaths.

Why it matters

The high number of cold-related deaths in such a short period has highlighted gaps in the city's extreme weather protocols and its ability to effectively reach and shelter the homeless population, sparking urgent calls for improved preparedness and a more robust social safety net.

The details

Several victims were found in various boroughs, including a man discovered under snow on a park bench in Queens and another pronounced dead on the ground near a Manhattan hospital. Officials said some showed signs of hypothermia, and several were believed to have been living on the streets. The city has activated its Code Blue policies, which include precautions to ensure homeless patients are not discharged back onto the streets, but questions remain about whether these measures were implemented quickly and thoroughly enough.

  • The temperature in NYC fell to 9°F (-13°C) on Saturday, January 25.
  • The victims were found between late last Friday and Sunday morning, January 26.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who has vowed to expand homeless outreach and warming centers in response to the cold-related deaths.

Jessica Ramos

A New York State Senator who noted that one of the victims had been discharged from a city-run hospital just before his death.

David Giffen

The executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, who said the deaths show the city needs to do more to make people feel safe when they come inside.

Molly Wasow Park

The city's social services commissioner, who said at least 200 people have voluntarily accepted shelter since the storm began.

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What they’re saying

“Extreme weather is not a personal failure, but it is a public responsibility. We are mobilizing every resource at our disposal to ensure that New Yorkers are brought indoors during this potentially lethal weather event.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“The fact that this many people have passed away shows the city needs to do a much better job of making people feel safe when they come inside. It's not that most of the people on the streets are unaware of the shelter system, but that they've had experiences there that make them not want to return.”

— David Giffen, Executive Director, Coalition for the Homeless

What’s next

The city has said it will continue to expand homeless outreach efforts and warming centers, and the judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the release of the victims' names.

The takeaway

This tragic event has exposed significant gaps in New York City's preparedness and response to protect its most vulnerable residents from extreme weather, underscoring the urgent need for improved social services, shelter access, and coordination to prevent future cold-related deaths.