Lake County offices are closed Monday and drivers are asked to stay off the roads after a state of emergency was declared in response to heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures from a winter storm. The decision was made late Sunday by Lake County commissioners after lake-effect snow blanketed parts of county.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Sunday to declare a state of emergency due to the severe winter storm. Emergency Management Director Joseph Busher said this now gives them the ability to work with the county and local communities to share resources,

"This is a very serious storm," Gov. Hochul said in placing Allegany County and 10 others under a State of Emergency.

The State of Emergency started at 3 p.m. Friday, and it includes Allegany, Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, and Wyoming counties.