Staying Ahead of the Storm: Information and Preparedness Tips for Hurricane Sandy

At 5:00 PM EDT, Hurricane Sandy was located 270 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, New Jersey and is expected to turn towards the north-northwest sometime today.  Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states have already begun experiencing the effects of this storm system and are bracing for landfall later tonight.

All residents of the 10th District should be prepared for this historic storm and should be ready to withstand several days of severe conditions.  Below are important links and tips available to all who will be impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

NOAA's Storm Central 2012 has updated advisories, satellite images, rainfall forecasts, and tide and water level predictions

ReadyPA.org, the American Red Cross, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency have updated their websites with important disaster relief and assistance information.

FEMA offers tips for before, during, and after a hurricane, including:

• Make a family communications plan
• Make plans to secure your property
• Find out how to keep food safe
• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes
• Continue listening to NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates

If you are evacuated from your home, remember to bring:

• Checkbooks
• Diver's license
• Credit card information
• Birth certificates
• Social Security cards
• Other forms and/or documents proving ownership and identity

County Emergency Management Agency Contact Information:

• Susquehanna - 81 Public Ave, Montrose, PA 18801; 570-278-4600
• Bradford - 29 VanKuren Drive, Suite 2, Towanda, PA 18848; 570-265-5022
• Tioga - 118 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901; 570-724-9110
• Sullivan - 570-946-5010
• Lycoming - 542 County Farm Road, Suite 101, Montoursville, PA 17754; 570-433-4461
• Union - 155 North 15th Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837; 570-523-3201
• Pike - 570-296-1911
• Wayne - 43 Volunteer Drive, Honesdale, PA 18431; 570-253-9570
• Luzerne - 185 Water Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711; 570-820-4400
• Wyoming - 3880 State Route 6 East, Suite 1, Tunkhannock, PA 18657; 570-836-2828
• Lackawanna - 30 Valley View Business Park, Jessup, PA 18434; 570-307-7300
• Montour - 30 Woodbine Lane, Danville, PA 17821; 570-271-3047
• Northumberland - 911 Greenough Street, Suite #2, Sunbury, PA 17801; 570-988-4217
• Snyder - 30 Universal Road, Selinsgrove, PA 17870; 570-372-0535

Utility Providers:

• PPL Electric Utilities is taking steps to prepare for Hurricane Sandy and ensure customers and the public informed throughout the storm and any potential outages.  While more than 1,500 additional workers will provide supplemental workforce support, PPL is urging customers to prepare for lengthy outages.
• First Energy (providing services through Met-Ed and Penelec) has advised customers to prepare for outages lasting up to 10 days, and has taken steps to secure outside utility crews, electrical contractors and tree contractors to assist in the event of large-scale outages.  In addition to preparedness tips and generator safety information, phone numbers are provided on their 24-7 Power Center to report power outages and downed wires.
• UGI has provided customers with an updated list of potential outage locations and offers free email updates for electric, gas, and natural gas customers here.

REMEMBER:  You should sign up for any and all text message and email updates from local safety and utility providers, ensuring you receive the most recent and up-to-date information.  I would also encourage you to share information regarding assistance and outages on my Facebook page.