A state official said some people had been trapped in cars for more than two days during what was "probably" the worst storm of their lifetime.
The death toll in the New York city of Buffalo has risen to 28, with thousands still without power amid a monster winter storm that has battered North America.
Hoak's Lakeshore restaurant in Hamburg, New York is covered in ice from the massive winter storm that swept across much of the country last week.
State Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, described the storm as "the blizzard of the century"."It is [like] going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking."
Officials warned that the warming temperatures in the region might lead to additional problems, including flooding as snow thaws.
Greg Lodinsky, who had been stuck in his apartment without power, travels to a friend's house in Buffalo's Elmwood Village on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022.
Due to the recent wave of sub-zero temperatures that has gripped the region, Niagara falls have transformed into a partially frozen winter wonderland.
Woman In US Dies After Blizzard Traps Her Inside Her Car. A 22-year-old woman died after being stuck in a snow storm in Buffalo, New York, while waiting in her car.
The winter storm has also forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, including about 4,800 on Tuesday. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at airports across the country.
Biden issues emergency declaration in western New York as winter storm death toll hits 28. Across the US, at least 62 people have died in weather-related incidents.