Heat uncertainty taking toll at NYC housing

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The frigid temperatures are putting a strain on NYCHA's heating systems. And, once again, Sotomayor Houses residents say they are suffering and surviving in the cold, but this time around, NYCHA's new emergency plan seems to getting results.

"This is not right. You wake up in the morning and your heat hurts becaue it's cold. I sleep in this to keep out the cold. People shouldn't have to live like this," said a grandmother.

NYCHA says there is one boiler plant with five boilers. Two of the boilers broke down. Fox 5 News found NYCHA General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo doing an on-site inspection. He says NYCHA planned a head for the cold snap.

"We have over 400 people responding to heat complaints. We brought on additional operators for our call center. We brought in 15 additional operators," said Mustaciulo.

Mustaciulo explained that residents may experience a low level heat until all the boilers are functioning properly. He says the goal is to reduce the heat outtage time, a hopeful step forward after last winter's frigid disaster that affected more than 80 percent of its 400,000 residents.

"Our restoration time for heat outages is 10 hours as opposed to 36 hours last year," said Mustaciulo.

The residents just hope the heat comes on and stays on. The uncertainty is taking a toll

"It really makes you frightened like you're going to continue to treat the seniors this way? And mothers with little children? Who is going to make them accountable? Who?" said the grandmother.

The NYCHA GM tells me that the heat is back on the Jackson and Mott Haven Houses, but the residents in the Mott Haven Houses are still waiting for water.

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