Even over a week after Winter Storm Fern struck, significant snow accumulations remain on streets near hospitals in New York City, creating hazardous conditions for emergency responders, according to reports.
On Monday, paramedics at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center expressed frustration with navigating the snow-laden roads. A reporter observed numerous ambulances caught in heavy traffic along York Street.
“This is one of the worst snow removal operations I’ve ever seen. We haven’t had this much snow in ages, and it’s really disrupting traffic,” remarked a paramedic with ten years of experience outside an Upper East Side hospital.
He added, “Snow is piled high along the roads; cars are double-parked, and buses struggle to reach their stops, which complicates travel.”
Another paramedic, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed similar concerns, stating, “It’s chaos on the streets.”
She noted, “Getting someone on a stretcher through this snow is difficult.” Areas surrounding the hospital had hardened snowbanks, making movement challenging.
An Access-A-Ride driver, frustrated with the situation, said, “It’s ridiculous. Dropping off passengers isn’t even possible on top of these snow mounds.”
One of the paramedics trapped in traffic on the way to an emergency call shared, “It was a really bad situation. We can’t move. It’s nearly impossible. We’re still trying to call for assistance.”
“Other countries actually manage snow removal better. Here, we mostly just push it to the side,” a first responder pointed out.
Since the January 25 storm, health officials have surveyed areas around both Weill Cornell and Memorial Sloan Kettering multiple times, addressing about a dozen complaints related to snow and ice, as shown in a Post analysis of 311 complaint data.
Rick, a 69-year-old patient using the city’s free Access-A-Ride service, described his struggle: it took almost an hour to reach Weill Cornell, despite living just 20 blocks away. “I told them to let me out as close to the crosswalk as possible because the sidewalk was impassable,” he recounted.
Sub-zero temperatures have preserved the icy snow longer than usual since the storm dropped about a foot of snow.
As of Monday, sanitation workers had used massive “hot tubs” to melt over 122 million pounds of snow and spread more than 209 million pounds of salt throughout the city.
One bus stop near Sloan Kettering was notably affected by lingering snow, with narrow paths making it treacherous for those using wheelchairs or walkers.
Fortunately, workers from the Department of Transportation cleared the stop completely on Monday, addressing concerns that had surfaced about patient safety.
In light of the ongoing issues with snow removal, there have been calls for the City Council to conduct health hearings and develop a clear plan for interagency collaboration regarding snow management.
Responsibility for snow removal can vary greatly depending on the location, potentially falling to private owners or various city agencies like sanitation, transportation, or parks.
City Councilman Frank Molano wrote to Mayor Zoran Mamdani, emphasizing the need for a clearer system to handle these responsibilities, stating, “Government agencies often shift blame while residents are left waiting and dealing with dangerous conditions.”
“This isn’t just about personnel; it’s a systems issue. New Yorkers deserve a quicker, clearer response when storms strike,” he continued. A DSNY spokesperson mentioned ongoing efforts to clear snow and move it for melting, but also stressed that property owners have a role to play.
As of early Monday, the DSNY had issued around 1,900 citations to property owners for not clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, along with about 50 citations for illegally pushing snow back into roadways and bike lanes.
