From the lake-effect machines that batter Buffalo's Southtowns, the Finger Lakes region, the Southern Tier and the remnants that crash the Capital Region down to the Hudson Valley, we know Mother Nature is nothing to discount.

Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26) and others in offices across New York state do too, and come the next legislative session, there could be some meaningful change for preparation and recovery.

“The bill that we're putting forward in the first days of the next Congress will make it easier for local governments to access federal funding by updating FEMA's outdated policies, increasing federal cost share from 75% to 90%,"  said Kennedy.

The 'SNOW Act', Support Neighborhoods, Offset Winter damage, is a bill that could bring major winter events — no matter the difference in severity and time between them — more support. 

"Our country's view of snow days and a white Christmas neglects the reality. Extreme winter storms, like any other disaster, can bring devastation and destruction, the likes of which our community knows full well," he said. "Just as our country comes to the aid of regions impacted by hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and flooding, we need to better support those that are impacted by extreme winter weather."

A trio of Western New York officials gathered in a salt truck bay just outside the city of Buffalo Monday where Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon said he knows the toll these storms can take.

"We're used to the snow," said Scanlon. "And so, quite frank, I think sometimes because it happens so frequently, people take it for granted when they're viewing the region. But we know the serious nature of it. We've seen snowstorms and snow events, blizzards that are once usually referred to as once in a generation, once in a century, they're now occurring or being or taking place yearly, [or] every couple of years. And the impact on our community is tremendous."

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz saw the generational Blizzard of '77 as a kid, helped navigate the devastation in 2022 and has experience trying to work with the federal government for support. 

"FEMA has a real short rule: 'No dough for snow,' because in their eyes, snow melts and communities can recover," said Poloncarz. "But we know the huge damage that a blizzard or a terrible snowstorm can have on a community."

Along with the financial component, the trio hope, if passed, this would significantly help prepare communities with equipment and everything needed to save lives in storms ahead.

"We cannot afford to do nothing,” said Kennedy. “The cost is far too great.”

As it stands, the FEMA guidelines to come in for storm relief for winter weather require record level snowfall. Back in 2022, in Western New York, the seven feet of snow that hit for Thanksgiving, followed by the devastating blizzard that killed more than 50 people, were not both covered until special requests were put in to help with the recovery efforts, something this bill would be said to address.