WHEREAS, beginning on December 11, 2008, and continuing thereafter, a winter ice storm has disrupted vital public transportation and utility service, and threatens public health and public safety systems, within the Counties of Albany, Columbia, Chenango, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster and Washington, and in contiguous areas; and

WHEREAS, this event has already caused wide-spread power outages and damage to homes and businesses; may result in significant flooding, hamper the movement of medical personnel, and strand motorists and travelers; and will continue to pose a threat to public health and safety and to result in personal hardship; and

WHEREAS, declaration of a disaster emergency satisfies the requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 390.23(a), which provides relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and such relief is necessary to hasten the movement of utility power restoration crews into New York State;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID A. PATERSON, 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, and pursuant to Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby declare a State Disaster Emergency within the Counties of Albany, Columbia, Chenango, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster and Washington, and in contiguous areas, 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, and I designate John R. Gibb, Director of the State Emergency Management Office, as the State Coordinating Officer for this event.