NY declares state of emergency after tornado and storm damage. Here's what it means

A state of emergency has been declared for all of New York after several strong storms wreaked havoc across the state within the past week.

Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement late Tuesday after the latest of the storms toppled church steeples and knocked out power for many residents in Rome. Nine tornadoes have been confirmed statewide so far as a result of the recent severe weather, with one of the most recent tearing through Canandaigua.

“With possible tornado touchdowns across the state, we are standing ready to assist localities however necessary as severe weather continues to move across the state,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers should be sure to monitor their local forecasts and prepare for hazardous travel and other impacts from these storms.”

Hochul plans to hold a storm briefing on Wednesday in Rome.

Here's what to know.

What a state of emergency means in NY

The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to Enhanced Monitoring Mode by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Hochul said. This allows real-time tracking of storms and supports local governments' requests for assistance.

The State Office of Fire Prevention and Control also activated its Fire Operations Center and is deploying teams, including canine units, to provide support.

The state's swift water rescue teams are prepared to respond and members of state police, the state Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, Parks, Public Service Commission and others are assisting in the statewide response.

Latest on NY storms, damageTornado, storms ravage Rome and Canandaigua in upstate NY. The latest

The DOT has large dump trucks, chippers, excavators and other large equipment available across the state to help clear debris.

Sawyer crews, which work to cut downed trees for easier removal, are being assembled by the state Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to assist Oneida County in their storm clean up. The State Incident Management Team has been deployed to help keep the disaster response running smoothly.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.