WASHINGTON: The White House said that United States President Joe Biden had sanctioned an emergency declaration for the state of New York after historic snowfall.

The White House announced on Monday that Biden has also ordered federal help to support state and local response operations to deal with the aftermath of a catastrophic winter storm and blizzard. 

A coordinating officer for federal recovery efforts in the storm-affected areas was also selected by the federal government.

The emergency declaration covers the counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming, according to a statement from the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Governor Hochul said on Monday, "I applaud President Biden for swiftly granting our emergency declaration request, for our ongoing strong relationship, and for Senator Schumer's help in securing relief for New Yorkers.

"My staff and I will continue to work around the clock to ensure everyone's safety, aid in the recovery of communities, and secure every last dollar to aid in the reconstruction and recovery from this incredible, record-breaking historic winter storm." Some areas of Erie County received more than 6 feet of snow during the storm, which set a state record for the highest snowfall in a 24-hour period.

According to the US National Weather Service, 80 inches of snow fell in Orchard Park, a municipality in Erie County, between November 17 and 20.

These impacted locations saw constant snowfall rates of two to three inches per hour throughout the storm, with some areas reaching a peak of six inches per hour. The heavy snowfall made for incredibly hazardous driving conditions.

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