US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in New York due to a severe winter storm, according to a statement by the White House.

"Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of New York and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on December 23, 2022, and continuing," according to the statement. 
 
According to the statement this announcement authorizes the DHS and FEMA to coordinate relief efforts, and provide assistance for "required emergency measures".

Two days ago, the National Weather Service reported that 60% of the US population had already faced a warning or advisory regarding the weather due to the brutal storm which left at least 50 people dead and around 380,000 homes and businesses powerless. 

The storm, according to the NWS, is unprecedented in its scope, its effects ranging from the Great Lakes next to Canada to the Rio Grande River in Mexico. 

Temperatures have drastically plummeted from Rocky Mountains' east to the Appalachians after the cyclone. Weathermen contend that this developed near the Great Lakes, causing blizzard conditions, including heavy winds and snow. 

Deaths that have been attributed to the weather conditions have been registered in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Weather forecasters warned that it was so cold in some areas that going outside might result in frostbite within minutes for tens of millions of people.

"This is not like a snow day when you were a kid," President Joe Biden told reporters. "This is serious stuff."