New York Lifts Vehicle Ban After Powerful Winter Storm Hits East Coast

The winter storm, described by meteorologists as a potential "bomb cyclone," led to unprecedented paralysis on the East Coast of the United States. Latest reports from New York indicate snowfall of 40-60 cm in various parts of the metropolis. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the lifting of the vehicle ban, allowing key bridges and roads to reopen. Simultaneously, the city's leader initiated an unusual program under which citizens can apply for compensation for helping to clear city sidewalks and arteries. Despite optimistic signals regarding land transport, the energy sector is grappling with a serious crisis. Downed transmission lines left over 400 thousand households without electricity. Repairs are hampered by strong winds and lingering snowdrifts. Many public schools in the region have decided to return to in-person teaching only from Tuesday, provided safety conditions allow. For decades, New York has been modernizing its crisis management system in response to extreme weather events. Following the tragic blizzard of 1888, which paralyzed the city for a week, a strategic decision was made to move key telegraph installations and subway lines underground. The paralysis also affected air transport on a global scale. Lufthansa and other transatlantic airlines were forced to cancel dozens of connections with JFK and Newark airports. The total number of canceled flights across the United States exceeded 10,000, generating losses counted in millions of dollars. „The lifting of the travel ban does not mean things are back to normal. I ask everyone to remain vigilant as our sanitation crews continue their work.” — Zohran Mamdani Authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel until heavy equipment finishes clearing smaller streets. The subway system is operating on a limited basis, trying to provide transportation for critical infrastructure workers.