Governor Tom Wolf is directing commonwealth resources to Southeastern Pennsylvania to support first responders after Tropical Storm Isaias caused as much as eight inches of rain in about six hours in parts of the state.
“This is a rapidly changing situation, and we anticipate that these missions will continue over the next several hours, as waterways could continue to rise even after the rain has stopped falling,” Governor Wolf said in a press release from his Office.
Wolf recommended citizens to stay away from the working crews. “Please avoid areas where emergency or utility crews are working so they can do their jobs quickly, and safely get back home to their loved ones.”
You can read: Isaias hits the Philadelphia region with severe damage
The PA Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team has been assigned to assist with water rescues in Berks and Montgomery counties, and Swiftwater Emergency Response Teams (SWERT) from the Fish and Boat Commission and other local agencies in the south-central area of the state are being sent to assist in the southeast.
PA National Guard vehicles capable of operating in high water conditions are being deployed to Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware counties. Additional PA State Police aviation support is in Montgomery County to assist with a search for a missing person.
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director, Randy Padfield informed about the operations. “PEMA staff started to monitor the effects of the storm early this morning and will continue to work with our state and county partners as long as state support is needed,”
“Both PEMA and the PA National Guard have assigned liaison officers to work with county emergency management offices that requested them,” added Padfield.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
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