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Governor Hochul Declares
Statewide State of Emergency Ahead of Storm Expected to Impact Holiday
Travel
Published: December 23, 2022
at 06:00 p.m.
By: Press Release from Governor Hochel’s
Office (12/22/22)
Governor Hochul Declares
Statewide State of Emergency Ahead of Storm Expected to Impact Holiday
Travel
Heavy Rain and Snow, Strong Winds, Coastal and Lakeshore
Flooding, Flash Freezing, Extremely Low Wind Chills and Power Outages All
Possible Over Next Several Days as Winter Storm Moves Across New York State
Beginning 6 a.m. Friday — Full Commercial Vehicle Ban on NYS
Thruway (I-90) between Exit 46 (Rochester, I-390) and the Pennsylvania
Border, and Soft Closures on Interstates and State Highways in Western New
York
New York's Utilities
Surging Additional 2,200 External Workers to Respond to the Storm; State
Assets and Personnel Ready to Deploy to Impacted Areas
Governor Hochul Urges New Yorkers Traveling for the Holidays to
Leave on Thursday or Wait Until Sunday to Travel, as Road Conditions Across
the State Will be Dangerous Friday and Saturday
Governor Kathy Hochul today
declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of New York in advance
of a significant winter weather system forecast to bring a mixed bag of
hazards across the state beginning Thursday evening and continuing through
Monday. Heavy rain and snow, strong winds, coastal and lakeshore flooding and flash freezing are all possible in various
regions across the state throughout the holiday weekend. In addition, lake
effect snow is expected to impact areas along Lakes Erie and Ontario
beginning Friday night and continuing into Monday with total snow
accumulations forecast to reach up to three feet.
"With Mother Nature throwing everything she has at us
this weekend, I encourage New Yorkers who are considering traveling for the
holidays to do so before Friday or after Sunday to stay safe," Governor
Hochul said. "Our agencies are well
prepared, coordinated and ready to deploy assets and equipment if needed to
respond to the storm. We want all New Yorkers to get where they need to go
safely to celebrate the holidays with loved ones."
Thursday into Friday, rain, snow showers and strong winds are
forecast for most of the state with rainfall amounts of up to three inches
possible in some places. Moderate to major coastal flooding (1-2 feet) is
possible Friday morning due to rain and strong winds, and lakeshore
flooding up to three feet above flood stage is possible off Lake Erie and
Lake Ontario due to rain, snowmelt and strong
winds.
Starting Friday and continuing into Saturday morning, much of
the state is expected to see strong winds up to 60 miles per hour or more
as temperatures will drop quickly and significantly, by more than 35
degrees in some regions, causing flash freezing, below zero wind chills and
icy road conditions. This will impact the Friday morning commute in Western
New York and the evening commute for the rest of the state. Winds on Friday
and Saturday will be strong enough to cause downed trees and power lines.
Friday night and continuing through Monday, lake effect snow
will impact areas off Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and strong winds are
expected to cause blowing and drifting snow with near zero visibility and
localized blizzard conditions. The Buffalo and Watertown areas could see up
to three feet of snow through Sunday night. Below normal, freezing
temperatures with low wind chills are expected to persist through Monday
for upstate regions.
Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to
take all necessary precautions, if traveling this week, and plan ahead for significant weather impacts.
Blizzard Warnings, Coastal Flood Warnings, Lakeshore Flood
Warnings, High Wind Warnings, Wind Chill Warnings, and Winter Storm
Warnings are all in effect this weekend throughout various counties across
the state. For a complete list of weather watches, warnings, and advisories
across New York, visit the National Weather Service website.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "The timeline for
this storm has moved up. If you are planning to travel this weekend do
everything you can to travel tonight instead or wait until Sunday morning.
Please, avoid travel on Friday and Saturday given the conditions most of
the state will face. In addition to hazardous roads, strong winds will
likely cause power outages. Be prepared for the possibility of losing
power."
Agency Preparations
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Services began coordinating State Agency response operations and contacted
local governments earlier this week ahead of weather impacts to ensure
preparedness. The State's Emergency Operations Center will be opening
Friday morning.
The Office of Emergency Management is working with Erie County
to pre-stage chainsaws and generators, and
deploying sandbags to the US Coast Guard in Buffalo to protect against
potential lakeshore flooding. The Office of Fire Prevention and Control has
equipment and personnel available to assist with mutual aid
requests.
Across the State's Ten Stockpiles, DHSES has the following
deployable items to support storm-related needs:
- 1,487
generators
- 985
pumps
- 528
chainsaws
- 250
light towers
- Cots,
pillows, blankets, water, and MREs
Department of Public Service
In preparation for this week's statewide winter weather event
the New York utilities have approximately 7,700 workers available statewide
to engage in damage assessment, wire guarding, response, repair, and
restoration efforts.
- This
includes an additional 800 external line and tree workers secured by
National Grid,
- 330
external line and tree workers secured by NYSEG and RG&E,
- 95
external line and tree workers secured by Central Hudson,
- 150
external line and tree workers secured by Orange & Rockland and
- 800
external line and tree workers secured by Con Edison.
- DPS
staff will track utilities' response, repair and restoration work
throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate resources
to regions that experience the greatest impact.
Department of Transportation
The State Department of Transportation is monitoring weather
conditions and is prepared to respond with 3,450 supervisors and operators.
Additionally, 75 ICS personnel are available to support the response to
this event. All affected residency locations will be staffed for 24/7
operation throughout the duration of the event. Staff can be configured
into any type of response crew that is needed such as snow and ice, flood,
chipper, load and haul, cut and toss, traffic
signal, etc. All available equipment is ready to deploy.
The State Department of Transportation is preparing to close
the following roads in Erie County to all traffic starting at 6 a.m. Friday
until conditions improve:
- State
Route 400
- State
Route 219
- I-290
- I-190
- State
Route 5 (Big Tree Road to I-190)
A restriction for trucks "Trucks Use Right Lane" on
Interstate 81 from Exit 32 (Central Square) to Exit 51 (Alex Bay) starting
at noon Friday.
Regional crews are currently engaged in all-hazards
preparations. Drainage structures are being checked and cleared of
debris. To support response activities in critical areas, a total of
65 staff, including 59 plow truck operators, 4 supervisors, 1 assistant
manager, 1 ICS support specialist, 10 plow trucks, 2 snow blowers, and 1
grader are being deployed to Western New York. They are distributed as
follows:
- 3 plow
trucks from Central New York
- 2 plow
trucks, 2 snow blowers, and 1 grader from the Finger Lakes
- 4
operators and 2 plow trucks the Western Southern Tier
- 26 operators,
2 supervisors, and 1 assistant manager from the Mid-Hudson Region
- 10
operators, 1 supervisor, and 3 plow trucks from the Southern Tier
- 19
operators and 1 supervisor from Long Island
- 1 ICS
specialist from the Capital District
The need for additional resources (Operators, Trucks,
Mechanics, EOI's) will be re-evaluated as conditions warrant throughout the
event. Generator stockpiles are being readied for deployment to
support dark signal response. Fleet mechanics in affected areas will be
staffing all main residency locations 24/7 to perform repairs and keep
trucks on the road. Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:
- 1740
large and medium duty plow trucks
- 52 tow
plows
- 37 snow
blowers
- 338
loaders
- 13 tree
crew bucket trucks
- 78 chippers
- 32
traffic signal trucks
- 20
graders
- 73
excavators
For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit 511NY.org or download the free 511NY
mobile app.
Thruway Authority
Thruway Authority personnel are staffed around the clock and
ready to respond to the storm with 678 operators and supervisors statewide.
Thruway has shifted and deployed additional staff and equipment from
its New York and Albany Divisions to support snow and ice operations in the
potentially hardest hit areas in Western New York. Deployed resources
include operators and supervisors, and large plow trucks.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES will
be banned on the New York State Thruway (I-90) from exit 46 (Rochester
I-390) to the Pennsylvania border, and the Niagara Thruway from I-90 to
exit 22 (Route 62).
Thruway statewide equipment numbers and resources are listed
below:
- 352
large and medium duty plow trucks
- 10 tow
plows
- 66
loaders
- More
than 119,000 tons of salt on hand
Variable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert
motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download
its mobile app which is available for
free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct
access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras, and
navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which
provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.
New York State Police
The State Police will assign extra patrols to areas that are
significantly impacted by the storm. All four-wheel drive and specialty
vehicles are in service, including utility task vehicles and snowmobiles.
Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest
Rangers, Emergency Management staff and regional staff are on alert and
monitoring the developing situation and actively patrolling areas and
infrastructure impacted by severe weather. DEC is coordinating
resource deployment with agency partners and all available assets are
positioned to assist with any emergency response.
DEC is advising backcountry users to be aware of and prepared
for winter conditions. Winter hiking and skiing safety and preparedness are
extremely important no matter your physical ability or destination.
Properly preparing for winter conditions is essential for a more enjoyable
and safer experience. During and immediately following periods of heavy
snowfall, avoid open, exposed areas like bare summits and use extreme
caution when traveling on or near open slopes. Additional information is
available here.
DEC reminds those responsible for the large-scale removal and
disposal of snow to follow best management practices to help prevent
flooding and reduce the potential for pollutants like salt, sand,
oils, trash and other debris in snow from
affecting water quality. Disposal of snow in local creeks and streams
can create ice dams which may cause flooding in nearby areas. Public and
private snow removal operators should be aware of these safety issues
during and after the storm. Additional information is available here.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and
closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. Seven sawyer crews are
on standby to assist with clearing downed trees and branches from roadways.
Park visitors should check parks.ny.gov or call their local park
office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings, and closings.
New York Power Authority / Canal Corporation
The New York Power Authority and the Canal Corporation staff
are performing preparations to ensure all facilities, assets and equipment
are secured and ready. The Power Authority is prepared to support power
restoration activities if needed.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority is monitoring weather conditions. Speed
restrictions may be in effect at the bridges, as well as along roadways to
and from the crossings. Passengers through the Port Authority's facilities
are encouraged to reach out to carriers and airlines directly for the
latest information on delays and cancelations. For the latest information
about Port Authority facilities, please check social media, sign up for PA
alerts or download one of the PA mobile apps, including RidePATH
which provides real-time updates and alerts for PATH service.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Metropolitan Transportation Authority is closely monitoring
weather conditions to ensure safe, reliable service. MTA employees will be
poised to respond to any weather-related issues and remove any downed trees
that may fall across tracks.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels will ban empty tractor-trailers and
tandem trucks beginning at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through 8:00 p.m. Friday.
Pedestrian walkways at the Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge will
be closed during this same time period; pedestrian
walkways at the RFK Bridge and Henry Hudson Bridge may close depending on
weather conditions.
Customers are encouraged to check new.mta.info for the latest
service updates, and to use caution while navigating the system. Customers
should also sign up for real-time service alerts via text or email. These
alerts are also available via the MTA's apps: MYmta
and TrainTime.
Safety Tips
Winter Travel Safety
The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms
is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, review these
safety tips:
- When
winter storms strike, do not drive unless necessary.
- Make
sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to
good driving.
- Always
match your speed to the road and weather conditions. Plan your stops
and keep more distance between cars.
- Be extra
alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children.
- Make
sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel,
flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains,
battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth
to use as a distress flag.
- If you
have a cell phone or other communications device such as a two-way
radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it
with you whenever traveling.
Cold Weather Safety
- Be aware
of wind chill - wind in combination with the actual temperature - that
can cause an increase of heat loss to the human body.
- Dress
appropriately and avoid staying in the cold too long.
- Wear a
hat and gloves when appropriate with layers of clothing. Avoid
unnecessary exposure of any part of the body to the cold.
- Drink
plenty of warm fluids or warm water but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Stay active to maintain body heat.
- Take
frequent breaks from the cold.
- If
signals of hypothermia or frostbite appear, get out of the cold,
slowly warm the individual and seek medical assistance:
-Frostbite: Symptoms include loss of feeling, a white or pale
appearance in fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
-Hypothermia: Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering,
slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, and drowsiness.
Heavy Exertion
Heavy exertion, such as shoveling snow, clearing debris or pushing a car, increase the risk of a heart
attack. Follow these tips to stay safe after the storm:
- Stay
warm, dress warm and SLOW DOWN when working outdoors.
- Take
frequent rests to avoid over-exertion
- If you
feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain in your jaw radiating
down your arm — STOP and seek help immediately.
Power Outages
Winter storms can cause power outages. Review these safety
tips before the lights go out so you know what to do in an emergency:
- Call
your utility provider to notify them of the outage.
- Avoid
all downed power lines and report them to your utility provider for
repair; assume all downed lines have live electricity.
- Use only
flashlights for emergency lighting - candles pose the risk of fire.
- Keep
your refrigerator and freezer doors shut to keep food from
spoiling. When in doubt, throw it out!
- Do not
use a charcoal grill or generator indoors and do not use a gas stove
for heat-they could give off harmful levels of carbon monoxide.
- Turn off
major appliances to prevent damage from a possible surge when the
power comes back on-keep one light turned on
so you know when power returns.
Home Heating
Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire
deaths. Keep loved ones safe by following these important steps:
- Keep all
combustibles at least three feet away from heating equipment.
- Always
plug appliances including space heaters directly into a receptacle.
Never plug appliances into a power strip or extension cord.
- Make
sure there is a working smoke alarm in each bedroom, outside sleeping
areas and on every level of your home.
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.
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