Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., has requested that President Joe Biden declare New York a federal emergency disaster area due to the ongoing deadly blizzard.
During a Monday briefing, Hochul urged the state's localities to keep track of expenses incurred during the storm.
"I spoke to the chief of staff to President Biden on Christmas Day," Hochul said. "They said they'll have an almost immediate turnaround for us, which I'm grateful for their interest in helping all of us be made whole after going through this."
At least 27 people were killed in western New York during the storm, authorities said Monday. The dead around Buffalo were found in their cars, homes and in snowbanks. Some died while shoveling snow.
"We have been through a lot of wars together, and this blizzard is one for the ages," Hochul said at the briefing. "Certainly, it is the blizzard of the century."
The arctic cyclone that walloped much of the country is blamed for at least 49 deaths nationwide, with rescue and recovery efforts continuing Monday.
Hochul and local officials stressed the need for upstate residents to remain home and stay off the roads so that streets could remain clear for first responders.
"We still have scores and scores of vehicles that were abandoned," the governor said.
"It's just a horrible situation that we can see sort of the light at the end of the tunnel. But this is not the end yet," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said Monday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said the snow total at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport was 49.2 inches at 10 a.m. Monday. Officials said the airport would be closed through Tuesday morning.
NWS officials said that up to 9 more inches of snow could fall in some areas through Tuesday.
Hochul said almost every fire truck in Buffalo was stranded Saturday and she implored people Sunday to respect an ongoing driving ban in the region.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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