New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office has appointed Frank Varlack, the City Hall chief of staff, as the city’s extreme weather coordinator, a role responsible for emergency response and preparedness during storms. The appointment comes after months of uncertainty about who held the position, which was created by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in the wake of Hurricane Ida. The Comptroller’s audit highlighted issues with the city’s emergency preparedness during Hurricane Ophelia, including: lack of catch basin cleaning, inadequate emergency alerts, and limited tracking of basement apartments vulnerable to flooding.