Governor Hochul: "[W]e're asking people to just use today to get ready for this major event. You know, this means getting gas in your tanks, stocking up on groceries, getting plenty of batteries, getting ready to check on neighbors, make sure they're ready for this, especially our elderly neighbors."

Hochul: "[T]his is something Western New Yorkers know how to do very well. I'm proud of how we've gotten through some of these in the past, but with the experience I've seen, it's all about being proactive and anticipating the worst, hoping for the best, and we'll see what Mother Nature brings."

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on News 4 Buffalo with Dave Greber and Jordan Norkus.  

AUDIO of the interview is available here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

Jordan Norkus: Joining us now live to tell us about how the preparations at the state level are looking is Governor Kathy Hochul. Governor Hochul, thank you so much for joining us this afternoon.

Governor Hochul: Thank you for having me.

Jordan Norkus: So we are looking at some heavy lake-effect snow, something you know all too well being from Buffalo. We've been hearing from local officials, but how is the state preparing?

Governor Hochul: Well, we're taking this very seriously. This will be a major impact, multi-day winter storm, and it could be life threatening. So the steps we're taking is I'm already declaring a State of Emergency beginning at 10:00 AM tomorrow. And also, because we've seen what happens when tractor-trailers jackknife on the throughway and literally can paralyze traffic and put people's lives in danger, we're going to close the throughway starting tomorrow at four to all commercial traffic from the Pennsylvania border all the way to Rochester, exit 46.

But in addition, we've already sent additional plows, we'll have over 350 plows on the ground, over 600 people deployed - engineers, mechanics, operators. Our stockpiles for generators and salt and fuel are high, so we'll have plenty of capacity there. And also opening up our State and Western New York Emergency Operations Center. I'll be in late tonight. We'll be doing a briefing tomorrow at 10:00 AM and I'm also bringing the head of the Throughway Authority, the head of the DOT and the head of the Emergency Services.

So we're fully deploying everyone on the ground as well as alerting utilities. They need to be ready in case of power outages. We're bringing people from all over the state. We're taking this very seriously and that's how the state is preparing.

Dave Greber: Governor, how will the state — I'm assuming State Police — enforce that commercial truck ban on the throughway starting at four o'clock tomorrow? I know we have had some issues with that in the past where the throughway is closed off to commercial traffic, but somehow continued - trucks continued to either not get that message, or ignore it and try to travel those dangerous roads.

Governor Hochul: Well, that's why we're getting the message out a day early. This is one of the lessons learned. You can't just, you know, quickly do it and say it's in effect. You have to give notice. So we're working with the New York State Trucking Association. We'll have plenty of signage. Our State Police are ready to enforce, and this is for their safety as well as the safety of other motorists. So we expect compliance. It's only a short time from Thursday until, to be determined, but probably through the weekend.

And also, we're asking people to just use today to get ready for this major event. You know, this means getting gas in your tanks, stocking up on groceries, getting plenty of batteries, getting ready to check on neighbors, make sure they're ready for this, especially our elderly neighbors.

And this is something Western New Yorkers know how to do very well. I'm proud of how we've gotten through some of these in the past, but with the experience I've seen, it's all about being proactive and anticipating the worst, hoping for the best, and we'll see what Mother Nature brings.

Dave Greber: Governor, will truckers be ticketed if they happen to be on the throughway and they're caught there in the hours between — or after four o'clock tomorrow?

Governor Hochul: Once it's officially closed, they will be ticketed, yes.

Jordan Norkus: And while we are talking about travel, what would you say to anyone who plans on being out on the road — especially Sunday with the Bills set to play in Orchard Park?

Governor Hochul: Well, we think by Sunday it should be clearing up. We are expecting the worst Friday and Saturday, and I really do want to manage expectations. Despite the fact that we're going to have hundreds of plows out there, and again, helping the City of Buffalo with their snow plowing as well, with the rate of snow expected at three inches per hour, it's almost impossible to keep up with that.

So when you wake up on Friday morning and Saturday morning, there will still be impassable roads. We just want people to give our plow operators the time and the space to be able to do their jobs so by Sunday, if the weather cooperates and the storm starts abating, we'll be able to be ready to get people on the roads by then.

Dave Greber: Governor Kathy Hochul, that's all the time we have for you this afternoon. Thank you so much for joining us.

Governor Hochul: Thank you. Bye-bye now.