Gov. Cuomo announces pre-landfall disaster declaration issued by President Biden

NEW YORK, N.Y. (WHEC) — Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in a press conference on Sunday that President Joe Biden approved a pre-landfall disaster declaration for 26 counties that will be impacted by Tropical Storm Henri.

The counties receiving the declaration are Albany, Bronx, Broome, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. This declaration follows the Governor’s issuance of a state disaster emergency Saturday.

"Tropical Storm Henri is already causing issues on Long Island and New York City with heavy rain, flooding, and downed trees," Governor Cuomo said. "I applaud and thank President Biden for his decision to issue a pre-landfall disaster declaration for New York, and I am directing our State agencies to deploy additional emergency response assets to areas likely to be impacted by this storm. As always, we will do everything we can to help our local partners with any and all response and recovery operations. This storm is unpredictable and, although it appears to be moving further east, the threats of storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, high winds, and power outages remain very real. Now is the time to be smart – pay close attention to weather reports, and, for the safety of yourself, your family, and responders, avoid any unnecessary travel."

Henri is expected to make landfall late this morning or early afternoon on or near eastern Long Island.

Cuome says the water could reach 3 to 5 feet above ground in several areas of Long Island if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. The storm is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of rain over Long Island, New York City, and southeast New York today into Monday, with isolated totals near 10 inches. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

For more information on the tropical storm response, click here.

To watch the full press briefing in its entirety, click on the media player above.