NYC seeing worst air quality since 1960s, officials say

STREAMING ON CBS NEWS NEW YORK, OUR TOP STORY. THE AIR QUALITY ALERT ACROSS THE TRI-STATE AREA DUE TO SMOKE FROM THE WILDFIRES BURNING IN CANADA. THOSE FIRES SO INTENSE, THEY CAN BE SEEN FROM SPACE. THE SMOKE BLANKETED THE CITY THIS MORNING. COVERING LANDMARKS AND CITY LEADERS SAY THE AIR QUALITY HAS NOT BEEN THIS BAD SINCE THE 19 60s. MAYOR ADAMS IS URGING NEW YORKERS ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE AT THE CONDITIONS AT THIS HOUR. WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE ON THE AIR QUALITY ALERT. WE'LL GET TO METEOROLOGIST ELISE FINCH IN JUST A MOMENT. BUT WE BEGIN WITH CBS2'S ELIJAH WESTBROOK IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN WITH THE HEALTH WARNINGS. ELIJAH? >> Reporter: YEAH, YOU KNOW MARY, THE AIR QUALITY IN OUR REGION IS CONSIDERED TO BE POOR. AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY CITY OFFICIALS ARE STRONGLY URGING THAT PEOPLE TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND THEY DO INCLUDE WEARING A FACE MASK SPECIFICALLY THE KN-95. AS THEY BELIEVE THAT'S THE BEST FORM OF PROTECTION IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. ALSO JUST SIMPLY NOT STAYING OUTDOORS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. CITY RESIDENTS WOKE UP ONCE AGAIN TO SMOKY AND HAZY CONDITIONS. OUR CAMERAS CAPTURING THESE SHOTS OF THE NEW YORK HARBOR WITH LOW VISIBILITY. OFFICIALS SAY THIS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE THAN 400 WILDFIRES BURNING IN CANADA. AND THAT SMOKY AIR HAS TRAVELED DOWN THROUGH OUR REGION. >> THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENT. IN OUR CITY. AND NEW YORKERS MUST TAKE PRECAUTIONS. >> Reporter: NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR QUALITY LEVELS HAVE RAPIDLY DIMINISHED OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS. THE WORST WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE 1960s. THEY ARE STRONGLY URGING PEOPLE WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS STAY INDOORS. ALSO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO EXERCISE SHOULD REDUCE PROLONGED OR HEAVY EXERTION OUTDOORS AS THERE COULD BE SHORT-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS. THEY INCLUDE SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR PRESSURE IN THE LUNGS. THE CITY'S TOP DOCTOR SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE TO SEE A SPIKE IN PEOPLE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL FOR ASTHMA ATTACKS AND OTHER RESPIRATORY RELATED MATTERS BUT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN AN INCREASE SO FAR. >> THE FINE PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE AIR CAN GET INTO PEOPLE'S LUNGS. CAUSE INFLAMMATION. AND WORSEN CONDITIONS LIKE ASTHMA, CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE, OR UNDERLYING HEART CONDITIONS. >> Reporter: AND SO WEARING A HIGH QUALITY MASK SUCH AS A KN 90 IS STRONGLY BEING RECOMMENDED IF YOU MUST BE OUTSIDE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IF YOU HAVE THE OPTION, WORK FROM HOME AS OFFICIALS SAY RIGHT NOW, IT'S HARD TO PREDICT JUST HOW LONG THIS AIR QUALITY ISSUE WILL LAST. >> LATEST SMOKE MODELS SHOW FURTHER DETERIORATION IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. >> Reporter: AND BACK OUT HERE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN. NOW WE KNOW THIS ISSUE IS NOT JUST IMPACTING THE NEW YORK CITY REGION. BUT OTHER STATES IN THE NORTHEAST INCLUDING NEW JERSEY. IN FACT, THE GOVERNOR THERE, GOVERNOR MURPHY DECLARED WHAT'SCALLED AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY WHICH IS STRONGLY ADVISING PEOPLE TO STAY INDOORS TODAY. OF COURSE WE WILL KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED ON THE LATEST WHEN IT COMES TO THIS MATTER BUT WE ARE LIVE RIGHT

Channel: CBS New York

Views: 442,207

Keywords: CBS2 News At Noon, california wildfire, air quality, air quality alert, air quality warning, nyc air quality, smoke, haze, wildfire, new york, eric adams, elijah westbrook, local tv

Id: dJCWZojN_Kg

Length: 3min 7sec (187 seconds)

Published: Wed Jun 07 2023