State National Guard Being Sent To Western New York

The winter storm watch that we've been looking at has been officially changed to a winter storm warning, and in preparation for Western New York to get hit with a significant amount of snow, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a State of Emergency in several New York counties.

Those counties include Erie and Genesee, along with Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, and Wyoming Counties.

The State of Emergency declaration allows the Governor to employ various tactics to keep people safe during this potentially dangerous storm that is on the way to Western New York.

Read More: Officials Urge New Yorkers To Take This Storm Serious

With the possibility of whiteout conditions hitting the Empire State, officials are closing the New York State Thruway for tractor trailers starting Saturday morning, among other things.

New York State Deploying National Guard to Buffalo and Western New York

In an attempt to make sure resources are available before the storm hits, state officials have activated the New York National Guard, and a guard unit is being sent to Western New York to help support emergency operations if they are needed.

100 soldiers and airmen, along with at least 25 vehicles, are being deployed to the area and will be ready if they are needed. The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs will have additional resources available if needed.

This isn't the first time the National Guard has been deployed to Western New York. Service members were deployed during the Blizzard of 2022, where dozens of Western New Yorkers died due to the intensity of the storm.

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