OEM says ‘Stay warm’

The city’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) reminds you that heating season is underway, and all city residents are entitled by law to adequate heat and hot water.
Tenants without adequate heat or hot water should first speak with the building owner, manager, or superintendent, OEM says. If the problem is not corrected, call 3-1-1 and file a complaint they say.
If you lose heat, OEM advises: Dress warmly; hang blankets over the windows and doorways for insulation; stay in the warmest room; open faucets to a steady drip so the pipes don’t freeze and most important, seek help.
The city’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) administers the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which provides low-income people with emergency heating assistance. Eligible residents will receive a payment for fuel delivery, or HRA will arrange for fuel delivery or boiler repair.
Emergency assistance is given to those who qualify only once per heating season, OEM points out. Again 3-1-1 is the number to call to reach HRA.
In case you lose electrical power, other important numbers are: Con Edison’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-752-6633 and the National Grid’s 24-hour hotline at 718-643-4050.