Information provided by Director of Communications, Robert J. Philbin
Mayor Linda D. Thompson provided an update this evening at a scheduled press conference covering the city’s ongoing preparations for Hurricane Sandy. The mayor urged residents across the city to brace for the coming storm and to stay safe and stay flexible as the storm passes through the city in the next few days.
“This is an unusual storm that could do a lot of damage before it moves through our region,” Mayor Thompson said. “We’re prepared for the worst -- flooding in our lower lying areas, and considerable high-wind damage, with perhaps days of scattered power outages. So we ask our citizens to stay flexible, look out for each other, and prepare for the storm’s lingering impact.”
The mayor said the city is also monitoring Susquehanna River stages at Harrisburg very closely.
“We’re keeping an eye on the river as well,” the mayor said. “By the end of the week we’ll have a better sense of the full extent of damage Hurricane Sandy brought to the city.”
The mayor noted that her team has been in constant contact with county, state and PEMA emergency personnel and that the city operations had no “unmet needs” at this time.
“I want to thank Gov. Corbett for his leadership and prompt and early actions, and PEMA Director Glenn Cannon for his agency’s support,” the mayor added.
Emergency operations are managed by the city’s emergency response team headquartered in the Emergency Operations Center which is located in the city government center in downtown Harrisburg.
Bureau of Fire Chief Robert Talloni is the director of the city’s emergency management team, reporting to the mayor.
“We are prepared and ready to assist our citizens wherever we are needed,” Chief Talloni said today. “We are anticipating the needs of each of our neighborhoods in terms of flash flooding and downed trees, and we urge everyone to stay safe and be prepared for this storm.”
The mayor also noted that most targeted flooded streets will be closed to traffic by Tuesday morning and she reminded drivers not to needlessly complicate an emergency situation by disregarding police barricades.
“We will save you, and then we will fine you and bill you for all the costs,” Mayor Thompson said.
Mayor Thompson will be visiting flash flood impacted areas throughout the evening.
The city’s Department of Public Works will collect the normal Tuesday trash route in the morning, but citizens are directed not to put trash out tonight, but bring trash cans to the curb early in the morning.
For more information, refer to the City of Harrisburg website, www.harrisburgpa.gov for flash flood maps and Hurricane Sandy updates. Turn on WHBG-20 for continuous broadcast coverage and updated Hurricane Sandy information.
For information such as household checklists for emergency kits and templates for emergency plans, visit:
http://www.ReadyPA.org or by calling 1-888-9-READYPA (1-888-973-2397).
Mayor Linda D. Thompson provided an update this evening at a scheduled press conference covering the city’s ongoing preparations for Hurricane Sandy. The mayor urged residents across the city to brace for the coming storm and to stay safe and stay flexible as the storm passes through the city in the next few days.
“This is an unusual storm that could do a lot of damage before it moves through our region,” Mayor Thompson said. “We’re prepared for the worst -- flooding in our lower lying areas, and considerable high-wind damage, with perhaps days of scattered power outages. So we ask our citizens to stay flexible, look out for each other, and prepare for the storm’s lingering impact.”
The mayor said the city is also monitoring Susquehanna River stages at Harrisburg very closely.
“We’re keeping an eye on the river as well,” the mayor said. “By the end of the week we’ll have a better sense of the full extent of damage Hurricane Sandy brought to the city.”
The mayor noted that her team has been in constant contact with county, state and PEMA emergency personnel and that the city operations had no “unmet needs” at this time.
“I want to thank Gov. Corbett for his leadership and prompt and early actions, and PEMA Director Glenn Cannon for his agency’s support,” the mayor added.
Emergency operations are managed by the city’s emergency response team headquartered in the Emergency Operations Center which is located in the city government center in downtown Harrisburg.
Bureau of Fire Chief Robert Talloni is the director of the city’s emergency management team, reporting to the mayor.
“We are prepared and ready to assist our citizens wherever we are needed,” Chief Talloni said today. “We are anticipating the needs of each of our neighborhoods in terms of flash flooding and downed trees, and we urge everyone to stay safe and be prepared for this storm.”
The mayor also noted that most targeted flooded streets will be closed to traffic by Tuesday morning and she reminded drivers not to needlessly complicate an emergency situation by disregarding police barricades.
“We will save you, and then we will fine you and bill you for all the costs,” Mayor Thompson said.
Mayor Thompson will be visiting flash flood impacted areas throughout the evening.
The city’s Department of Public Works will collect the normal Tuesday trash route in the morning, but citizens are directed not to put trash out tonight, but bring trash cans to the curb early in the morning.
For more information, refer to the City of Harrisburg website, www.harrisburgpa.gov for flash flood maps and Hurricane Sandy updates. Turn on WHBG-20 for continuous broadcast coverage and updated Hurricane Sandy information.
For information such as household checklists for emergency kits and templates for emergency plans, visit:
http://www.ReadyPA.org or by calling 1-888-9-READYPA (1-888-973-2397).