Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino declared a state of emergency Friday and ordered a countywide travel ban ahead of a major winter storm expected to bring heavy snow, dangerous road conditions, and frigid temperatures to the region.
The emergency order prohibits nonessential vehicular travel on all public roadways in Dutchess County from 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, through 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26.
“We are braced for a major winter event this Sunday and Monday,” Serino said in a statement. “To ensure public safety and allow road crews to keep up with the storm, we have issued an emergency order banning travel in Dutchess County.”
The county order comes after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency earlier on Friday, urging residents across the state to stay indoors. The National Weather Service in Albany issued a winter storm warning for Dutchess County beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday and continuing through 7 p.m. Monday, with snowfall accumulations of 12 to 24 inches expected.
The travel restriction will exempt emergency vehicles and essential personnel, including healthcare workers, first responders, law enforcement, utility crews, public works employees, and snow removal personnel.
All county government offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 26, including Department of Motor Vehicle offices. Appointments scheduled for that day will be honored Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the same time and location, weather permitting.
The county’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated throughout the storm, and the 911 Communications Center will be fully staffed. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office will deploy additional patrols using four-wheel-drive and all-terrain vehicles, while highway crews will operate more than 50 plows and salt trucks to clear county roads, according to a press release issued by the County Executive’s office.
Officials also warned of dangerously cold temperatures, with overnight lows expected to fall into the single digits beginning Friday night.
Residents seeking shelter can contact the Department of Community and Family Services at 845-486-3300 during business hours or call 2-1-1 after hours and on weekends. Storm updates will be posted at dutchessny.gov/stormupdates, and winter safety information is available at dutchessny.gov/WinterPreparedness.