Pennsylvanians are being advised to monitor weather forecasts in advance of an approaching multi-day storm that could bring six inches of snow to much of the state through Wednesday. Snowfall in some areas near the southern border and in the western ridges could approach a foot.
“State agencies are working together to closely monitor the storm and we encourage everyone in the state to do the same,” said Richard D. Flinn Jr., director of thePennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). “We don’t expect a storm of the magnitude of the one that we had a few weeks ago, but weather conditions can quickly take a turn for the worse. Pennsylvanians should prepare for the worst and make sure they have supplies in advance of adverse weather.”
Flinn said that after the snowstorm two weeks ago, families should check to make sure their home emergency kits have been restocked with essential items. A home emergency kit should contain:
- non-perishable food
- bottled water (one gallon per person per day. A family of 4 needs a minimum of 12 gallons)
- medications
- flashlight with spare batteries
- first aid kit
- warm clothing; and
- any specialized items such as baby supplies or pet food.
PennDOT actively monitors and is prepared to combat winter weather with its roughly 2,200 trucks, plows and salt spreaders operated by 4,800 department operators statewide. While the department has more than 679,000 tons of salt and more than 499,000 tons of anti-skid on hand, motorists are urged to use common sense and caution in traveling in this and other winter storms.
“Whenever there’s any type of precipitation, drivers need to adjust their speeds and travel plans accordingly,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. “Our crews are out around the clock during storms, but roads won’t be bare while it’s snowing. We ask the public to join us in making roads safer by postponing unnecessary travel and, if they must drive during storms, to plan for extra time and drive according to the conditions on the road.”
To help motorists make decisions about travel, Richards encouraged visitingwww.511PA.com for travel information such as incidents, winter road conditions and to view traffic cameras. The public can also track more than 700 department and contracted trucks on interstates and expressways statewide with the site’s new “Plow Trucks” option.
Richards also noted that when traveling at any time during the winter, drivers should have their vehicle emergency kits packed or restocked. The kit should contain items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families have such as baby supplies, extra medication and pet supplies.
The commonwealth’s ReadyPA campaign encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an emergency occurs: Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Involved. More detailed information, including free downloadable emergency home and car kit checklists and emergency plan templates, is available online at www.ReadyPA.org. The free ReadyPA app is also available for both Apple and Android devices.