Governor Andrew Cuomo, in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" on Sunday, called the escape "elaborate" and "sophisticated."
"The first order of business is to get these killers back. This was the first breakout since 1865 and I want to make sure it's the last," he said.
The two men in adjoining cells drilled holes in walls to break out of them. They then went through a series of catwalks and tunnels, breaking through steel to clear prison grounds and escaping through a manhole on a nearby street, officials said.
They used clothing to make it look like they were in their beds and left a yellow note with a smiley face and the words "have a nice day" on steam pipe. Authorities have found some of the simple instruments they used but not the power tools.
Authorities do not know how they acquired the tools but were checking to see if they came from contractors working for the prison.
Matt is serving 25 years to life for kidnapping, murdering and dismembering a man.
Sweat, 34, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for killing a sheriff's deputy. Police said he shot the deputy nearly two dozen times.