WHEREAS, on April 27, 2011 and continuing thereafter, severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds, disrupted vital public transportation and utility service, and threatened public health and public safety systems within the County of Essex; and

WHEREAS, this event has caused widespread flooding, power outages, damage to roadways and other public infrastructure, residences, and businesses, damaged public and private property, and will continue to pose a threat to the public health and safety;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of the State of New York, do hereby find that a disaster has occurred for which the affected local governments are unable to respond adequately. Therefore, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, I hereby declare a State Disaster Emergency effective April 29, 2011 within the territorial boundaries of the County of Essex.

FURTHER, pursuant to Section 29 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, I direct the implementation of the State Disaster Preparedness Plan and authorize, effective April 28, 2011, the State Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, the State Police, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Public Service Commission, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Office of General Services, the American Red Cross and other State agencies as necessary, to take appropriate action to protect state property and to assist affected local governments and individuals in responding to and recovering from this disaster, and to provide such other assistance as necessary to protect the public health and safety.

FURTHER, I have designated Andrew X. Feeney Director of the State Office of Emergency Management as the State Coordinating Officer for this event.