NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. - New York Air National Guard Technical Sgt. Richard Ball of Tonawanda, N.Y. and a member of the 107th Airlift Wing, packs his cold weather gear Jan. 7 in preparation for missions as part of the New York National Guard initial response force for Operation Polar Vortex. With heavy lake effect snows and wind chill warnings forecasting three feet of snow and temperatures at or below zero, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo mobilized 300 members of the New York National Guard to prepare to assist civil authorities during the storm’s passage this week. Members of the New York National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing in Niagara Falls, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry and 105th Military Police Company in Buffalo and the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse will all provide Soldiers and Airmen along with vehicles to support local authorities as needed.