Delco braces for second major storm in a week
Still in the midst of trying to recover from last weekend’s storm, Delaware County is preparing for yet another round.
Timothy Boyce, Delaware County’s director of emergency services, said as of noon Tuesday more than 10,000 businesses and residents remained without power. The high was almost half the county Saturday with well over 100,000 customers experiencing power loss.
“Many of the residents still without power are facing infrastructure repairs – new telephone poles, lines and significant repairs – to get them back into normal condition,” Boyce said. “The weather is certainly expected to impact that tomorrow as we cannot send crews out in unsafe conditions.”
Also on Tuesday, Boyce said he had spoken with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency director, Richard D. Flinn Jr., and he asked the state official for a number of resources to be pre-deployed to Delaware County.
Boyce explained that the county operations had been working at full capacity for a number of days and in anticipation of the upcoming storm, he didn’t want to run out of people able to assist during that time.
The county director said PennDOT and PECO representatives were being sent and if needed, National Guard help would be on their way to help with transportational needs.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning extending from 7 p.m. Tuesday through 3 a.m. Thursday with 3 to 6 inches of snow expected. Light rain is expected to turn into a mixture of rain and sleet before turning into a heavy snow, falling at rates of 1 inch per hour at some points.
According to the NWS meteorologists, the heaviest snow will fall from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.
They also warned that travel conditions may be difficult during both commutes on Wednesday with limited visibility and wind gusts up to 35 mph.
Tuesday afternoon, SEPTA announced the Regional Rail would be operating on a Severe Storm Schedule Wednesday, which is basically a Saturday schedule with some adjustments. Commuters are asked to view http://septa. org/service/winter.
Gov. Tom Wolf recommended postponing any unnecessary travel so that crews could clear the roads and added that empty straight trucks, large combination vehicles such as tandem trailers and double trailers, tractors hauling empty trailers, trailers pulled by passenger vehicles, motorcycles and recreational vehicles, or RV’s would be prohibited on Interstate 78 from I-81 in Lebanon County to the New Jersey line.
That ban also applies to parts of I-80, I-81, I-84 and I-380.
“This storm may not have the extremely high winds as the one last week, but it will dump significant amounts of snow across a wider area and that prospect is moving us to take additional aggressive steps to restrict heavier vehicles from the interstates,” Wolf said. “We must remember that weather is to a large extent unpredictable, but we are doing our utmost to station resources in as effective way as possible.”
On Tuesday, the Delco Hi-Q championship was postponed until 9:15 a.m. Thursday at the Garnet Valley High School, where Garnet Valley High, Haverford High and Delaware County Christian will vy for the county’s top spot.
County residents were urged to know where incapacitated power lines are ahead of the storm.
“Do know where the downed power lines are,” Boyce said. “Before you go out and shovel your walk, know where they are.”
He said most of the lines have been identified but it’s been difficult as lines have been deactivated then activated again as power is being restored.
“It’s making a difficult situation more dangerous,” he said.
Over in Ridley Township, township Manager Ed Pisani talked about how his community was still dealing with the loss of electricity while waiting for the next storm to hit.
“We still have 900 people out but they’re all sporadic throughout the township,” Pisani said.
As crews cleared trees Tuesday, the manager said they’d open Garling Hall at the township building on MacDade Boulevard, as they did Sunday night, for anyone who needs heat.
“Our biggest concern is with the power outages,” he said. “We do have things in place. (If there’s) too many people, we can open up the high school.”
Pisani also said that many YMCAs are open for people to use the showers.
“We find that a lot of people don’t want to leave their homes,” he said. “But, if they want to come and get warm, charge their computer or their phone, they can come up here and get warm for a few hours.”
In the meantime, Boyce said to be aware and tend to mental needs as well.
When power has been out for five days and continuing, people’s routines can be impacted and frustration can lead to depression, he said.
“Delaware County has many families that care for people with physical and access and functional needs,” Boyce said and without TV for five or six days, that can add stress to the person or their caregiver.
He urged Delaware Countians to try to find some positive ways through their situation – and urged others just to let their neighbors and friends know they care.
“We’re resilient people here in Delaware County,” Boyce said. “It is concerting that 10,000 places are without power. Be a little extra supportive of one another. It’s tough to not have a shower for a couple days. Would it hurt again to offer up to a friend or neighbor that they could use your place? (Just) to know that somebody else cares?”