Buffalo, New York – Today Mayor Byron W. Brown announced the continued installation of new generators at the nine facilities that will serve as emergency warming shelters during major weather events in Buffalo. Click on the following link to view footage of the installation at the Delavan Grider Community Center, along with a brief interview with City of Buffalo Deputy Commissioner of Buildings Francisco Guzman. https://vimeo. com/880947397/f06951854a?share=copy
Mayor Brown said, “The opening of these emergency warming shelters, when needed during storms, represents our enhanced and comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of City residents. Having additional backup power, as well as food and water, will allow these facilities to better serve as emergency warming shelters in the case of a power outage.”
Mayor Brown announced the emergency warming shelter locations for residents on Monday, October 30th, when he released the City’s 2023-2024 Winter Snow Plan. The plan has been filed with the Buffalo Common Council and is publicly available for viewing at www.buffalony.gov/snowplan.
The nine sites designated as warming shelters include the JFK Community Center, Tosh Collins Community Center, Peter Machnica Community Center, Gloria J. Parks Community Center, Asarese-Matters Community Center, Delavan-Grider Community Center, West Side Community Services, Lincoln Fieldhouse, and the North Buffalo Community Center.
The emergency warming shelters will be operational, if needed, during Tier 3 blizzard-classified weather events, as defined in the City’s Snow Plan. Once opened, the Department of Community Services, along with its partners, will staff these shelters. The shelters will have cots, water, and Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs).
In addition, each of the shelters will have signage, providing instructions to residents once they arrive at the shelters. Blue lights will also shine at the exterior entrance of each shelter to help alert the public when the shelters are open.
Information will be disseminated about the status of these shelters, through local media, as needed, as well as on all of the City’s communication platforms, including BUFFALERT, Mayor Brown’s Facebook Page and X (formerly Twitter).