ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he's asking the federal government to grant a Major Disaster Declaration for 18 counties, including Erie and Chautauqua County.
According to the governor's office, the storm caused more than $33 million in damage to infrastructures across the state. The federal government declaring a Major Disaster Declaration would allow communities to continue to repair buildings and remove debris, the governor says.
"This year's Halloween storm caused tremendous damage to infrastructure and homes across the entire state," Governor Cuomo said. "I am urging the federal government to validate the severity of these storm damages as soon as possible so we can begin to get the businesses and families the funding they need to repair and rebuild."
The National Weather Service says portions of New York received between two and five inches of rain and strong winds between Halloween and November 1. More than 100 state roads were damaged and or closed because of the flooding-- while more than 246,621 customers were without power during the peak of the storm.
The governor declared a state of emergency for Erie and Chautauqua County on November 1.
