Biden declares a state of emergency in the state of New York due to the polar cold wave

MADRID, 27 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has approved this Monday the declaration of emergency in the state of New York due to the wave of polar cold that is hitting the east of the country and that has left more than 50 people dead so far.

"Today, President Joe Biden has declared that an emergency exists in the State of New York and has ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from a severe winter storm that began on the 23rd December 2022 and continues", wields a statement shared by the White House.

The president's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the powers to coordinate all relief efforts in the state in the event of a disaster.

Likewise, these bodies will be in charge of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency in the local population, as well as providing adequate assistance for "necessary emergency measures" in order to save lives and protect property and health and public safety, in addition to reducing or avoiding the threat of a catastrophe.

"FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, the necessary equipment and resources to alleviate the effects of the emergency," the letter states, detailing that the assistance will have financing at the national level of 75 percent of all Expenses.

The latest balance of victims brings to fifty the number of deaths after the winter storm that hits the country, all while it is expected that the number will continue to rise in the coming days.

The highest number of deaths have been reported in the state of New York, where at least 27 people have died from the polar cold wave from Canada. Another 14 have died in Buffalo.

The scope of the storm is unprecedented, affecting parts of the midwestern and eastern United States for six days, according to CBS. The storm has caused power outages, flight cancellations and has made streets and highways dangerous.

The governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, has affirmed that it is the "most devastating" storm in the history of Buffalo, where nearly 100 centimeters of snow have fallen. "I cannot overstate how dangerous conditions continue to be," Hochul said, urging residents to stay off the roads at Christmas.