Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency for all 62 counties in New York state.
As of Tuesday morning, the state has directed resources to help keep New Yorkers safe during the incoming blizzard and high wind conditions.
All non-essential state employees have been urged to stay home.
Governor Cuomo is also warning drivers, especially those of tractor trailers, to anticipate road closures due to the weather.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul spoke Tuesday morning about the decision to declare a state of emergency.
"It's all about being prepared," she said. "This could have changed within minutes, it could have shifted overnight and we would have been caught off guard. That's not how Governor Cuomo operates. He thinks it's more important to make sure we have the people here in Western New York safe, regardless of the outcome. So we've given the warnings, schools are closed, we can get the plows out and that means we'll be back to normal much sooner than normally."
A regional weather command post has been set up in Western New York in Cheektowaga. Members of the Thruway Authority, the NY Department of Transportation and members of the governor's office will montior road conditions and direct resources where they're needed most.
WNY will see a full deployment of the DOT and Thruway Authority. Additional resources are being called from the parks service.
