Biden declares federal emergency in western New York after nearly seven feet of snow immobilizes region

President Biden declared a federal state of emergency on Monday for 11 counties across New York that were walloped by last week’s massive snowstorm.

The declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Biden administration entities to fund and coordinate disaster recovery efforts in the impacted areas. Biden’s signoff came within hours of Gov. Hochul submitting a request for the emergency order.

“I thank President Biden for immediately granting our emergency declaration request,” Hochul said in a statement. “My team and I will continue working around the clock to keep everyone safe, help communities dig out, and secure every last dollar to help rebuild and recover from this unprecedented, record-shattering historic winter storm.”

The emergency order covers the counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wyoming. According to the White House, the presidential order greenlights FEMA to bankroll recovery efforts at 75%.

[ Buffalo, western N.Y. bouncing back after snowstorm ‘for the record books’ ]

Before Biden’s move, Hochul issued her own emergency declaration that freed up state funds for snow removal and other disaster response initiatives.

Parts of Erie County, which is home to Buffalo, have recorded a whopping 80 inches of snow since the storm started Thursday. During the storm’s peak on Saturday, some areas of upstate saw 6 inches of snow accumulate per hour.

Hochul was in her native Erie County to survey damage Monday.

Even as the snowfall subsided Monday, parts of Buffalo and Lackawanna remained under a travel ban, and many public schools were closed.