Presidential Emergency Declaration for Erie and Genesee Counties Would Provide Direct Federal Assistance for Ongoing Storm Response, Including Search and Rescue Efforts in Buffalo

Statewide State of Emergency Remains in Effect as Winter Storm Brought Paralyzing Conditions in Western New York, Claiming Lives, Leaving Hundreds of Motorists Stranded and More than 100,000 Without Power During Extreme Cold Temperatures over the Holiday Weekend Battery For Power Outage

New Yorkers Urged To Continue Avoiding Unnecessary Travel in Areas Impacted by the Storm and Follow Local Travel Advisories Due to Dangerous Conditions

Travel Ban Remains in Effect for Most of Erie County, Including Entire City of Buffalo; Multiple State Highway Closures in Place in Western New York; NYS Thruway (I-90) between Exit 45 (Rochester) and Pennsylvania Border Still Closed to All Traffic

Governor Kathy Hochul today submitted a request to President Biden for a Federal Emergency Declaration, as a result of the historic winter storm that began on Thursday, December 22, and continues to impact Western New York and the North Country regions, where the storm brought blizzard-like conditions, sustained wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour, and well below freezing temperatures through the holiday weekend. The State's storm response continues this week as a multitude of the State's emergency response agencies have deployed equipment and personnel to coordinate with and support local governments in impacted regions. Governor Hochul deployed an additional 220 National Guard soldiers to the Western New York region, bringing the total of deployments to approximately 430. With the response expected to continue throughout the week, Governor Hochul and local officials are continuing to urge New Yorkers to avoid travel in the impacted areas of Erie County, as well as in areas in the North Country experiencing similar conditions near Watertown. Once approved, the Federal Emergency Declaration will provide immediate federal assistance to support ongoing response and rescue operations.  

"I want to thank everyone at the state and local public safety agencies who stepped up and worked throughout the holiday weekend," Governor Hochul said. "I have spoken to President Biden who has agreed to swiftly approve our Federal Emergency Declaration, which will be crucial to assist our recovery efforts from this historic storm, and I thank our congressional delegation for helping secure this assistance. While we continue to do everything we can to help Western New York recover and await federal assistance, I want everyone in impacted areas to continue to stay off the roads and check in on loved ones and neighbors."   

The Governor submitted a request to President Biden for a Federal Emergency Declaration for Erie and Genesee Counties. Once approved, the Emergency Declaration will provide immediate federal assistance to impacted counties to support ongoing response and recovery operations.  

Prior to the arrival of the event on Thursday evening, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for the entire state, which remains in place. Additionally, New York's emergency management agencies were in constant communication with the National Weather Service and local governments in the week leading up to the storm.  

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (including the Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control), Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, State Police, State Parks and DEC all pre-deployed resources to the Western New York, Finger Lakes and North Country regions ahead of the storm, and additional resources were surged to heavily impacted areas.  

Numerous State highways in the Western New York region remain closed to all traffic, as of Monday afternoon. The New York State Thruway (I-90) remains closed to all traffic between exit 46 in Rochester to the Pennsylvania line.  

Heavy snow is expected to continue to impact areas off Lake Ontario and Lake Erie this week. Another one to two feet of snow is expected east of Lake Ontario through Tuesday, with snowfall rates of three inches per hour on Monday. The Buffalo area is expected to receive up to an additional foot of snow over the next few days, before temperatures rise later this week and through the weekend. The Department of Transportation has surged an additional 100 staff to the Western New York, Finger Lakes and North Country Regions to assist with snow and ice removal operations.  

Lake Effect Snow Warnings and Winter Storm Warnings are currently in effect for several counties in the North Country region. For a complete listing of weather watches and warnings in your area, visit your area's National Weather Service website.  

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "We have and continue to work with our state and local partners to help New Yorkers recover from this devastating winter storm. I want to thank everyone involved in the response to date, and for their continued efforts as we remain active in search and rescue missions. Please adhere to local travel advisories that are still in place and know that Governor Hochul and I are working with our partners at all levels of government to ensure we get the assistance necessary to keep communities in Western New York safe."  

I have spoken to President Biden who has agreed to swiftly approve our Federal Emergency Declaration, which will be crucial to assist our recovery efforts from this historic storm, and I thank our congressional delegation for helping secure this assistance."

Safety Tips for Impacted Communities    Winter Travel Safety    The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents:  

Extreme Temps      

Heavy Exertion   

Power Outages      

Home Heating    Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Keep loved ones safe by following these important steps:   

For all non-emergency service needs before, during or after a storm, call 211 or visit 211nys.org.    For more safety tips, visit the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Safety Tips web page at www.dhses.ny.gov/safety.

Emergency Backup This page is available in other languages