About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, September 01, 2021

UPDATED: Lehigh and NORCO County EMS Issues Warning Concerning Tropical Storm Ida

From Lehigh County: Lehigh County Emergency Management Officials continue to prepare for and monitor the track of Hurricane Ida as it moves towards Lehigh County. Please pay close attention to the weather forecasts as the remnants of Hurricane Ida are expected to bring 3 to 6 inches or more rain to parts of the county.

Preparing for emergencies is important!  If you have not done so already, it is important to ensure you:

 

·         Review and update your emergency supply kit. You should have at least a 72-hour supply of non-perishable food, water, medications and other necessities to sustain you, your family and family pets. (remember a kit for your car and work. In addition to traditional emergency kit items, include an extra clean mask for each person in your household. Find a complete list of itemsto include in your kit at https://www.ready.pa.gov/BePrepared/BuildKit/Pages/default.aspx

·         Review and update your emergency plan.  Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.  Find a list of simple and practical steps at  https://www.ready.pa.gov/BePrepared/MakeaPlan/Pages/default.aspx 

·         Have an adequate communications plan – be sure friends and family know how to contact you.  Teach family members how to use text messaging as text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call can’t get through.

·         Follow the directions of local officials – evacuation orders may be issued by officials, so follow their guidance for the health and safety of you and your loved ones.

·         Stay informed; Monitor local weather forecasts and news reports for our area.  Remember to have spare batteries for your radio in case of a power outage.

 

We urge residents to:

·         Avoid downed power lines; always assume that a downed line is a LIVE wire. If you see downed power lines – DO NOT Approach. Contact PPL at 1-800-DIAL-PPL (1-800-342-5775).

·         DO NOT drive through flooded roadways. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” Don’t drive through flood waters. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas at bridges and at highway dips.

·         Check on friends and family. If you are able, please check on your neighbors, friends, and family some may need more help than others. You can help by sharing emergency alerts and real-time safety notifications

·         If you are in need of immediate emergency assistance, dial 9-1-1.

 

More information about what to do before, during and after a disaster can be found by visiting ready.gov or listo.gov or by calling the Lehigh County Emergency Management Agency at (610) 782-4600.

Update from Northampton County, 10:48 AM: Lamont McClure and Emergency Management Services (EMS) report that the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is tracking Hurricane Ida as it moves towards Northampton County. As of now, it is anticipated that most of the 3-to-6 inches of predicted rainfall will occur overnight from 8:00 PM on Wednesday through 8:00AM on Thursday. The Lehigh River is forecasted to reach action stage sometime around Thursday afternoon. For now, the Delaware River is not forecasted to reach action stage, but conditions could change as the storm moves through the area.

EMS has sent emails out to local municipalities reminding them to prepare for possible flash flooding.

“We will continue to monitor reports and coordinate with PEMA and other agencies,” says Lamont McClure. “I encourage all residents to listen to NOAA Weather Radio or their favorite news source for weather information and make whatever preparations they feel are necessary to keep themselves safe.”

Residents should be cautious in areas with a history of flooding. EMS reminds motorists not to drive through flooded roadways and to keep children and pets away from flood water. Do not drive around barricades or through standing water. Six inches of water can cause a car to stall and a foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most automobiles including sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Lynch and Smith, water seeking its own level. As I’ve witnessed, a person is known by the company they keep. That photo is great. I suspect that these guys spend more time grooming with hair and beard wax than they do thinking about other people. Thanks for informing us that Smith, “I had no idea I had alcohol in my system,” caused a fatality. He doesn’t seem to be overly repentant about it. Lynch is dangerous, period.