Update: Obama Accepts NY State's Federal Emergency Declaration

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: President Barack Obama accepted New York State's request for a federal emergency declaration, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.

The declaration means that the state and, some, local governments are eligible to receive additional federal assistance to support activities related to evacuation, sheltering and other protective measures. It also means that the state is eligible to receive technical assistance in response to Hurricane Irene from any federal agency, at no cost.

So far, the assistance is for Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Additional designations can be made to other areas later if state officials deem it necessary.

"I thank the president for his quick response," Cuomo said in statement. "We are working hard at all levels of government to prepare for this storm and we appreciate the federal government’s support."

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New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today some of his plans for the coordination of state resources in preparation for Hurricane Irene.

The announcement followed an emergency meeting he had earlier today with his cabinet.

Cuomo ordered the following actions to be implemented immediately:

• The New York Army and Air National Guard will deploy up to 900 soldiers and airmen and over 100 vehicles to support civil authorities. Those troops have already begun to report.

• The Metropolitan Transit Authority will institute a system-wide shut-down when trains and buses begin their final runs starting at approximately noon on Saturday. The shut-down will include subways, buses, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and Access-A-Ride.

• If sustained wind speeds exceed 60 mph, all of the following bridges will be closed to all traffic: the George Washington Bridge, the Tappan Zee bridge, all bridges operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and the following Hudson River bridges: Bear Mountain Bridge, Newburgh-Beacon, the Mid-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, the Kingston-Rhinecliff and Rip Van Winkle in Catskill.

• The New York State Thruway and possibly other major highways will also be closed if sustained wind speeds exceed 60 mph; further closings will be announced as the storm progresses.

• The Long Island Power Authority will have 2,500 line workers and tree trim personnel available throughout the weekend for emergency repair work, its largest emergency roster ever

• There will be 175 extra ambulances and personnel deployed in regions expected to be hit the hardest by the storm.