Last Updated on December 26, 2022
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a press release on Monday in which stated she submitted a Federal Emergency Declaration request to the federal government for assistance in the state’s response to a blizzard which has resulted in people frozen to death by nature’s elements, looters targeting empty stores, and the deployment of some 430 National Guard soldiers.
“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 press release said.
“Governor Hochul deployed an additional 220 National Guard soldiers to the Western New York region, bringing the total of deployments to approximately 430,” the press release said.
“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 impact counties to support ongoing response and recovery operations,” Gov. Hochul said in the Monday statement.
“Prior to the arrival of the event on Thursday evening, Governor Hochul declared a State 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,” the press release said.
The New York State Thruway (I-90) will remain closed to all traffic between exit 46 in Rochester to the Pennsylvania line.
“I want to thank everyone at the state and local public safety agencies who stepped up and worked throughout the holiday weekend,” Gov. 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.”