WHEREAS, at about 10:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, on Thursday, February 12, 2009 a commuter twin-engine airplane crashed into a house in the Town of Clarence, County of Erie during an instrument approach to Buffalo International Airport, killing 49 passengers and one person on the ground; and

WHEREAS, the plane crash has caused damage to residential property, caused personal hardship and continues to pose a threat to the public health and safety in the Town of Clarence, County of Erie; and

WHEREAS, real property taxes for the 2009 fiscal year are currently due in the affected town; and

WHEREAS, section 925-a of the Real Property Tax Law authorizes the Governor to issue an Executive Order during a State Disaster Emergency, extending the period for paying real property taxes without interest; and

WHEREAS, a request for such an extension has been received on behalf of Erie County and the Town of Clarence; and

WHEREAS, given the hardships continuing to face the people of the Town of Clarence as a result of the plane crash, such an extension is eminently warranted; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID PATERSON, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and 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, and pursuant to Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby declare a State Disaster Emergency within Erie County; and

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 all necessary State agencies to take appropriate action to assist affected local governments and individuals in responding to and recovering from this disaster, to protect state and local property, and to provide such other assistance as is necessary to protect public health and safety.

FURTHER, pursuant to section 925-a(2) of the Real Property Tax Law, do hereby extend to February 24, 2009 the period for paying without interest the real property taxes that are currently due in the Town of Clarence.