New York Gov. Cuomo Helps Long Island Driver Stranded in Snow

— -- Officials aren't just issuing warnings for today's snowstorm -- they're on the roadways helping.

After New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that New York City and Long Islands roadways were to be closed today at 2:30 p.m., his office tweeted photos of him assisting a stranded driver on the Cross Island Parkway on Long Island.

The photos were posted at about 2 p.m.

"We are going to commence a ban on roads in the downstate area," Cuomo said today. "We will do it in an orderly way so people have time to leave work and to get home. But the plows can’t keep up. The situation is getting worse. The last thing we want is for it to get later in the day and have people on the roads under dangerous circumstances."

Cuomo earlier issued a state of emergency in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange counties.

In New York City, the snowfall expectation was up to 20 to 25 inches -- which could make it one of the top 5 snowstorms ever recporded in the city. In New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority suspended bus service at noon Saturday. New York City's outdoor subways will close at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Cuomo isn't the only leader helping.

In Washington, D.C., authorities posted a photo of a D.C. police chief helping an officer free his cruiser in the 6th District.

And in Arlington, Virginia, the National Guard came to the rescue when a fire truck was stuck in the snow.