President Signs New York State Disaster Declaration After Winter Storm

President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in upstate New York. That means Washington will chip in to help state, local and tribal governments pay to clean up and rebuild after a blockbuster storm buried the region under more than 7 feet of snow last month.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the storm had cost more than $46 million, well in excess of the government’s $27.3 million threshold for federal emergency aid.

More than 370 structures suffered roof damage from the snow; 38 structures were destroyed.

The storm is blamed for 14 deaths.

Federal funding will now be available for the counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Orleans, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming.

Obama signed the disaster declaration Monday during his vacation in Hawaii.