Julia Burns

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Feb 25, 2026, 10:20 PM

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Updated

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The New York City Office of Emergency Management has a new leader at the helm, taking the lead on the latest blizzard.

Christina Farrell was appointed as the new commissioner about a week ago.

Farrell is no stranger to the department. She previously served as first deputy commissioner under former Commissioner Zach Iscol.

"We were really, you know, a team. We worked very closely together for four years. We had an earthquake, we had the air quality issues. When the smoke came down from Canada, we had space weather and the asylum seeker operations. So we had a lot of things that we really hadn't experienced in the city," said Farrell.

She was part of two major snow events the city has seen so far this year, and was commissioner for the most recent blizzard.

“We expect storms. You know, I don't think any of us expected a big storm. And then three weeks of arctic cold and then another big storm," said Farrell.

The department coordinates emergency responses and has tackled things like weather events, city-wide blackouts, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farrell brings more than two decades of experience with emergency management.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time, I think I know every inch of this agency. We will be here for New Yorkers. We’re hoping that the snow is coming to an end. You know, have a little patience, Spring is coming,” said Farrell.