The PA Emergency Management Agency is urging citizens to be alert for dangerous weather as Tropical Storm Isaias moves northeast along the East Coast.
The impacts from the storm are expected to be stronger in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, particularly in the southeast corner of the state.
According to the National Weather Service, rain will start overnight tonight, with the heaviest rain, flash flooding and strong winds expected throughout the day on Tuesday.
Minor to moderate river flooding could last into Wednesday. Little-to-no impact from the storm is expected across western Pennsylvania.
“The effects of this storm, coupled with severe weather from over the weekend in parts of eastern Pennsylvania, are a significant concern to us and our county emergency management partners,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “The best way to help emergency responders is for individual families to be prepared with an emergency plan and a communications plan, so everyone knows what they need to do to stay safe.”
Padfield said the following steps are a good start in getting ready for possible flooding:
-- Never walk or drive through flood water;
-- Learn the difference between a weather watch and weather warning, since each requires different steps to stay safe:
-- A flood watch means that flooding may occur. Residents should stay alert, closely monitor rivers and streams, and be prepared to move to high ground quickly.
-- A flood warning means that there is actual flooding. Residents should act at once and move to higher ground.
-- Determine how you would leave your neighborhood if you needed to evacuate your home; and
-- Identify where you would meet up with your family (both in your town and an out-of-town location) in the event you were separated when the flooding started.
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.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Families should have multiple ways to get severe weather alerts. A NOAA weather radio is an inexpensive and portable option that provides location-based weather alerts. Most models are battery-operated, but others can be powered via a USB connection, solar power or by manually cranking a handle on the unit to store power.
Many local media provide local weather alerts via text message, social media or apps that can be downloaded to a cellphone.
Residents are encouraged to select one or more trusted media outlets, and sign up for the AlertPA notification system by CodeRED for emergency and weather related alerts, health notifications, building alerts, and other updates from commonwealth and federal agencies.
Keep in mind there should never be a cost for weather alerts, other than data and texting charges that may be levied by a wireless carrier.
There are five National Weather Service Offices that service Pennsylvania, and each makes weather information available via Twitter and Facebook: NWS Cleveland (Twitter, Facebook); NWS Pittsburgh (Twitter, Facebook); NWS State College (Twitter, Facebook): NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly (Twitter, Facebook); and NWS Binghamton (Twitter, Facebook.) You do not need a social media account to access the information shared on either platform.
More information about how to prepare for an emergency, including specific information for people with specialized needs such as pets or access and functional needs, is available on the ReadyPA webpage.
(Map: Rainfall potential.)
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[Posted: August 3, 2020]
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