Governor declares state of emergency for 12 counties, including Orleans

Declaration mobilizes resources as snow and extreme cold hit WNY, northern NY

Photo by Tom Rivers: The bronze statue of Santa on Main Street in Albion is partially covered in snow this morning after several inches fell overnight and this morning.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for 12 counties, including Orleans, which have been impacted by a lake-effect snow storm.

Extreme cold and up to three feet of snow are forecast to hit some of the areas, although the total in Orleans is about 4 to 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Orleans is under a cold weather advisory from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday with bitterly cold wind chills expected as low as 15 to 20 below zero.

Hochul said the state of emergency declaration allows the state to coordinate and share resources with local governments affected by the snowstorm. The State Department of Transportation will be available to provide assistance to municipalities in excess of existing shared service agreements, Hochul said in a news release.

The declaration includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and Oneida counties, as well as contiguous counties.

“As lake effect snow falls across several areas of our state, I’m declaring a state of emergency for these areas to ensure state resources are available to assist local communities as we work together to keep New Yorkers safe throughout the duration of the storm,” Governor Hochul said. “We also continue to deal with extreme cold which poses an extraordinary risk to anyone who is exposed to the elements or is unable to adequately heat their home, and I encourage all New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast and take precautions to keep themselves and their families safe.”