New York State Requests Federal Emergency Declaration

Today, Monday, December 26, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul requested a Federal Emergency Declaration due to the destruction that winter storm Elliott caused in Western New York and other parts of the state.

Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC)

The storm, which caused blizzard conditions in Buffalo and WNY, began on Thursday, December 22. It has also affected the North Country regions. In WNY at least 26 people have lost their lives due to the storm, which brought wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour, below-freezing temperatures, and up to 4 feet of snow.

Gov. Hochul deployed the National Guard to the Buffalo area to assist police and first responders. A total of 430 National Guard members are in WNY. Approval of the Federal Emergency Declaration will provide immediate federal assistance, which will help the areas hardest hit by the storm. Gov. Hochul said,

I want to thank everyone at the state and local public safety agencies who stepped up and worked throughout the holiday weekend. 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 Federal Emergency Declaration will be for Erie and Genesee Counties. Federal assistance provided by the declaration will help in recovery efforts. WNY has a ways to go to recover from this storm.

Get our free mobile app

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.