Kathy Hochul declares state of emergency in New York over looming Nor'easter

States up and down the East Coast are preparing for the storm, which has already hit North Carolina and submerged parts of the Outer Banks in four feet of water.

By Misty Severi

Published: September 25, 2026 6:20pm

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday declared a state of emergency for New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester ahead of a looming Nor'easter storm.

States up and down the East Coast are preparing for the storm, which has already hit North Carolina and submerged parts of the Outer Banks in four feet of water.

"I’m declaring a State of Emergency for Nassau, Suffolk, New York City and Westchester as this powerful coastal storm bears down on the region," Hochul said on X.

"We’re expecting dangerous coastal flooding, strong winds and potential power outages through the weekend," she continued. "Take this storm seriously. Stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and text 333-111 for realtime updates."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also urged city residents to avoid travel this weekend if possible, noting that powerful wind gusts are expected to begin Friday night.

"New Yorkers, a storm is arriving today. Don't travel if you don't have to," he said on X. "Never drive or walk through floodwater. Call 911 if you are in danger, and report nonemergency issues to 311. Look out for one another and stay safe."

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill also declared a state of emergency on Friday for eight counties, consisting of Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.