Orange County Executive Neuhaus Declares Local State of Emergency

Neuhaus attributed the low levels of accidents and emergencies to the cooperation of residents.

Snowy yards and roads in Otisville, N.Y., on Jan. 26, 2025. Oliver Mantyk/The Epoch Times

ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y.–Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus on Jan 25 declared a local state of emergency due to severe winter weather conditions, as snow piled up on roads and dwellings across New York.

A large snowstorm passed over an estimated 180 million Americans between Jan. 24 and Jan. 26, dumping snow and ice from the Rockies to the Northeast.

The emergency declaration allows county officials to change or suspend regular operating procedures in order to best protect the public. This includes controlling access to dangerous areas and requesting help from the state.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the state preemptively on Jan. 23.

“The governor already declared one, some towns and villages did, some didn’t,” Neuhaus said in a Jan. 25 video post on Facebook. “I’m doing it ... to allow local towns, villages, and cities to piggyback off our existing procurement. I have at least one community in Orange County right now relying on additional help from a private contractor to clear snow.”

Neuhaus said residents should not drive unless they are considered “essential personnel.” The essential personnel category includes law enforcement, firefighters, and healthcare workers. Non-essential workers are prohibited from using county roads until the emergency declaration is lifted.

Neuhaus said that the county has not experienced many 911 calls so far, with only a few vehicle accidents and no power outages. He said utility companies are on standby to respond in the event of power outages or similar issues.

He attributed the low levels of accidents and emergencies to the cooperation of residents, thanking them for staying home and off the roads, and allowing “first responders to do what they have to [do] more efficiently and effectively.”

Neuhaus’ office said the Emergency Operations Center has been fully activated since 7 a.m. on Jan. 25, with multiple community partners on-site, including the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and the county’s Emergency Operations Team. It will remain fully operational until 3 p.m. on Jan. 26, or longer if deemed necessary.

The county’s “Code Blue” is in effect because of cold temperatures. Code Blue is initiated when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. Outreach is given by the police and social workers to homeless people to get into shelters and warming stations. Neuhaus said that they are currently monitoring 80 people in shelters across the county.

Residents are advised to stay informed by monitoring official updates on the Orange County government’s website and social media pages.