State Of Emergency Declared Across New York As Dangerous Winter Storm Looms

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday declared a statewide State of Emergency as New York braces for a powerful winter storm forecast to blanket much of the state with heavy snow and plunge temperatures well below zero this weekend.

Forecasters warn that some areas could see snowfall totals reaching 18 inches, adding to accumulations left behind by an earlier storm earlier this week.

Speaking at a mid-morning briefing, Hochul warned that the approaching system poses a serious threat, calling it a “very very dangerous weather event” that is expected to affect “every corner of the state.”

“We are used to winter in New York,” Hochul said during a midmorning news conference Friday. “We think we are ready for this, but when you get complacent that’s when you get into trouble…. This is a very dangerous combination of heavy snow and extreme, extreme cold temperatures and the risks are so intense that as I’m standing here right now, I’m declaring a state of emergency throughout the entire state of New York.”

State officials said the early emergency declaration is intended to give municipalities immediate access to state assistance and equipment before conditions deteriorate.

“This will ensure that all of our local partners and agencies have the resources they need to keep New Yorkers safe and to get through this weather event,” Hochul said.

In preparation, crews from the State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority have already begun treating roadways. Hochul also approved remote work for all state employees on Monday and urged private employers to follow suit.

Power companies have positioned crews in anticipation of possible outages, though Hochul said the storm is not expected to bring significant ice accumulation.

New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O’Leary said the state’s emergency operations center will be activated starting Saturday night and is expected to remain operational through at least Monday.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm is expected to ramp up late Sunday morning, strengthen through Sunday afternoon and evening, and continue into Monday morning. Meteorologist Jon Hitchcock of the NWS office in Buffalo warned that the snowfall could make travel especially dangerous during the Monday morning commute.