President Joe Biden approved New York’s emergency declaration request on Dec. 26 as the state battles with a powerful winter storm that has claimed the lives of at least 50 people across the United States.
The White House said in a statement that Biden issued an emergency declaration on Monday for Erie and Genesee counties.
The approval “authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures,” according to the statement….