Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul appeared on CBS 2 to update residents of New York about the ongoing winter weather and the recent declaration of a State of Emergency.
During the interview, Governor Hochul emphasized her primary concern for public safety on roadways. “Basically I’m concerned about safety on the roads. We have so many people that have traveled to see loved ones over the Christmas holidays and they may be planning their return trip tonight or tomorrow morning. And I’m just urging everyone, if you can stay off the roads just a few more hours, delay your travel plans and allow our plows to get out there and do what they do. That’s my main concern,” she said.
She added that while New Yorkers are accustomed to heavy snow, this event is widespread and could be disruptive for those not used to such conditions. “If people are staying home, it’s just a volume of snow. We’ll be able to get through it. New Yorkers are tough. We’ve been through this before. But I’m just more worried about safety on the roads at this point,” Hochul stated.
Governor Hochul described the storm as affecting multiple regions: “And this is a widespread event. Right now we have the heaviest snow in Central New York and it’s moving east, and we’re going to see — this is not unprecedented, but when you’re not used to it on a regular basis, it’s a shock to the system and people aren’t used to driving in it and they’re not used to the delays.”
When asked about coordination with local authorities in areas like New York City, she explained: “We are always cooperating as a partner to our local municipal governments. This is not just the City of New York, this is all of Long Island, it’s the Hudson Valley, Central New York, it’s the Capital Region –– it is 35 counties. And so my authority allows me to anticipate a serious crisis, real problems, and to be preemptive. And part of that is being able to declare a State of Emergency. And that State of Emergency gives us the flexibility we need to manage whatever comes our way.”
She noted her experience with severe winter storms from her time living in Buffalo: “For example, I’m from Buffalo, I’ve been through countless major blizzards and snow events that are paralyzing, and you want to be able to have State snow removal vehicles go on to local roads, but you can’t do that if there’s not a State of Emergency.” The governor also highlighted ongoing preparedness efforts involving emergency management teams across different levels of government.
Regarding power outages caused by heavy snowfall or strong winds damaging power lines—a frequent risk during such storms—Hochul outlined state preparations: “That’s my other largest concern as someone who was a young mom in Buffalo and we had a blizzard that kept our power out for about a week… So what I know is to make sure that we have over 5,000 utility crews ready to be deployed if these power lines come down… So my number one concern if that happens is getting the power restored immediately, so we are in constant communication with the utility companies about where they need to go to get the power and the heat back on.”
The governor concluded by reaffirming her commitment alongside state agencies and utilities in responding promptly as conditions develop.
