SULLIVAN COUNTY -- The Hudson Valley faced the wrath of Winter Storm Ezekiel on Sunday and Monday. While snow totals were not calculated as of press time, parts of the region were predicted to see up to a foot or more.

All county school districts and SUNY Sullivan were closed Monday because of the inclement weather.

Governor Andrew Cuomo urged non-essential state employees to stay home yesterday. And on Sunday, he placed the National Guard personnel on standby and activated the state's Emergency Operations Center to enhanced monitoring mode as a severe winter storm passes through many parts of the state. Governor Cuomo deployed state agency commissioners from DHSES, DOT, Thruway Authority and State Police to regions expected to be hardest hit by the storm, and announced the state emergency response bunker will be open until the end of the storm. The Governor also announced 524,000 tons of salt is available to help combat black ice and snowy roads.

“This storm has the potential to cause significant problems as many New Yorkers return from the Thanksgiving holiday today and commute to work tomorrow,” Governor Cuomo said on Sunday. “Snow, black ice, rain and wind are a bad combination — but this isn't our first rodeo and we pre-deployed significant state assets and personnel to prepare for the storm and maintain the roads. I am now placing National Guard personnel on standby and activating our emergency command center to ensure we are able to respond quickly and effectively to this storm and help keep our people safe.”

The snow created unsafe conditions for motorists throughout Sullivan County, with over a dozen motor vehicle accidents reported on Sunday and Monday.

There were reports on Sunday of multiple motor vehicle accidents on State Route 17 between 17 exits 104 and 106. Earlier that morning, emergency crews responded to the scene of an overturned vehicle in front the County Division of Public Works Department on 17B.

Sullivan County Commissioner of Public Safety Rick Sauer said it's not uncommon to see an increase in motor vehicle accidents after the first significant snowfall of the year.

“Drivers need to slow down and be a little more cautious,” Sauer said. “It's not uncommon to get rollovers because people overcorrect once they start sliding. We had a number of those types of calls through the weekend”

Sauer said County Division of Public Works was out all night salting and plowing roads on Sunday leading into Monday.

Road crews continued their work last night even after the winter weather advisory ended at midnight.