Cuomo made a stop at the Cohoes NYPA headquarters on Sunday afternoon, and as YNN's Maria Valvanis explains, he tells us not only is he getting prepared, but it's extremely important for you to be getting prepared as well.

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COHOES, N.Y. -- "This is going to be a serious situation, all the forecasts say that. Exactly how bad we don't know, but we know there's going to be a lot of rain and a lot of very very high winds, especially across Upstate New York," said Governor Andrew Cuomo.

And the governor isn't taking any chances. With the estimated arrival of Sandy just hours away, the Governor was in Albany County Sunday afternoon, where he worked with officials to moderate any potential flooding.

"The DEC and Canal Corporation have taken the actions to lower water levels throughout the system, in areas they can be controlled, canals reservoirs and controlled river areas," said Howard Glaser, Director of State Operations.

Director of Canal Corporations, Brian Stratton, said "We're going lower, 12-16 feet below navigational factors. During Irene, for a number of factors, we were only able to lower 6-8 feet."

And it doesn't stop there. Governor Cuomo mobilized the New York Army and Air National Guard, deploying 1,100 troops to areas expected to be hardest hit.

"With every kind of imaginable equipment that they could need. Helicopters, lighter utility helicopters, and humvees."

And while the government is doing everything it can to prevent a catastrophe here in New York, Governor Cuomo says the job doesn't end with them.

"We want to make sure the people at home and the viewers remember they have a responsibility in this also, and as citizens, we need you to act prudently...this is nothing to be trifled with, this is not a storm to play with," said Cuomo.