Cuomo Declares March 2017 Snowstorm Major Disaster

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Mid-Hudson Valley counties are a step closer to receiving federal disaster aid in hte wake of a devastating late-winter snowstorm. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday a major disaster declaration for 28 counties across the state — including Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster — due to the storm that occurred March 14-15, 2017. State and local governments had more than $31.4 million in response costs and infrastructure damage validated as a result of the storm.

A major disaster declaration for these counties is the next step in seeking financial assistance from the federal government once the $27.7 million damage threshold is met to allow local communities to continue to recover. [Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts here.]

Assistance includes funding for emergency protective measures, debris removal and repairs to public infrastructure.

"Extreme weather is quickly becoming the new normal and all levels of government need to reorient to best help those impacted by increasingly frequent storms," Cuomo said. "The state is committed to supporting every stage of the recovery process, and this declaration is critical to getting the assistance we need to help these communities move beyond this storm."

There were three fatalities statewide during the snow event. More than 17,000 power outages impacted tens of thousands of people throughout the state.

Cuomo directed 1,400 members of the New York National Guard were deployed to assist in response efforts.

States of emergency were declared by 40 local governments because of the storm and its aftermath.

Patch file photo.