Lower Saucon Train Derailment Demonstrates Why Hazard Mitigation Plans Are Needed

Over the weekend, three Norfolk Southern trains crashed and derailed in Lower Saucon Township. At least one locomotive and empty propane tanks spilled into the Lehigh River, along with about 50 gallons of diesel fuel and plastic pellets. This accident demonstrates quite clearly why the Lehigh Valley has a Hazard Mitigation Plan and why it is updated every five years. A large part of the reason why first responders were on the scene so quickly is because of that plan. 

Last week, I wrote about both the natural and manmade hazards considered. The chief concern about this derailment was the release of environmental hazards or an explosion. Fortunately, nothing like that happened. ... This time. 

According to the draft mitigation plan, "Many hazardous materials incidents occur during transportation. The Lehigh Valley contains a network of roadways linking large population centers within the region, and freight carries frequently utilize this network. Some of the freight transported to and through the Lehigh Valley is considered hazardous, and the presence of hazardous materials on the roads and railways inevitably creates the potential for these materials to be involved in transportation accidents." The sole exception is I-476, from Route 22 north to Route 209 in Carbon County, where most hazardous materials are banned.  

Since 1971, there have been 2,321 "transportation incidents" involving hazardous materials. Most of them occur on our highways. Only 15% involve rail transportation. 

Possible health risks from environment hazards include thermal harm caused by extreme temperatures; radiological harm; asphyxiation; chemical injuries and exposure to biological toxins. Usually, the locations closest to the accident are at greatest risk. That can changes depending on the weather, proximity and first responders and their training. 

After the East Palestine train derailment leading to the release of vinyl chloride, Executive Lamont McClure directed emergency management to conduct three training sessions to deal with the release of hazardous material. It appears that they had this incident contained pretty quiikly, which is a credit to EMS and McClure's leadership. 

What Are The Lehigh Valley's Man-Made Hazards?

Yesterday, I gave you an overview of the natural hazards identified in the draft Lehigh Valley Hazard Mitigation Plan. I found the summaries of past occurrences and the threat assessments quite interesting. Today, I'm sharing portions of what are identified as man-made disasters. 

Civil Disturbance / Mass Gathering: "The Lehigh Valley is home to annual events classified as mass gatherings by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. ... Most past occurrences of non-planned gatherings within the Lehigh Valley have been peaceful, with only one incident being associated with any type of violence: a large group of juveniles (30-40) were reported fighting in North Whitehall Township. ... Many civil disturbances are reflections of human behavior and responses to current events. This reality makes it virtually impossible to predict future occurrences of civil disturbance. However, it is highly likely that future instances will occur, as the First Amendment of the Constitution protects freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. At the same time, the possibility of a gathering of people becoming disruptive and/or violent cannot be eliminated, and law enforcement may be put in the difficult position of having to uphold the Constitution while maintaining law and order and protecting the public. Major national and global events are often catalysts for civil disturbances, and the Lehigh Valley should be particularly vigilant in the wake of such events. The likelihood of civil disturbance/mass gathering is considered ‘highly likely’ as defined in the Methodology Section."

Dam Failure: "There have been no recorded dam failures in the Lehigh Valley. However, the Lake Minsi Dam, which is categorized as a high hazard dam in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, was deemed unsafe due to limited spillway capacity. The lake was drained in 2017 for the dam to be repaired. ... . Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for dam failure events in the Lehigh Valley is considered ‘unlikely,’ as defined in the Methodology section."

Drug Overdose Crisis: "The most commonly identified drug category in toxicology reports varied for counties across Pennsylvania in 2022, and overdose deaths commonly involve more than one substance. In Lehigh County, there were 162 reported overdose deaths in 2022, and the opioid class of drugs contributed in 85.8% of these deaths.178 Troublingly, Fentanyl accounted for 95.7% of all opioid-involved overdose deaths and was specifically identified in 82.1% of all overdose deaths in Lehigh County. Non-fentanyl opioids contributed to only 3.7% of overdose deaths in Lehigh County. The second most common drug class contributing to overdose deaths in Lehigh County in 2022 was stimulants, which contributed to 59.9% of overdose deaths. For Northampton County, 67 overdose deaths were reported in 2022. The opioid class of drugs was the most common contributor to overdose deaths in Northampton County, accounting for 86.6% of all reported overdose deaths. As was the case in Lehigh County, fentanyl was the specific drug identified in virtually all opioid-related deaths in Northampton County; non-fentanyl opioids contributed to only 1.5% of overdose deaths in Northampton County. ... Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for drug overdose events in the Lehigh Valley is considered ‘highly likely’ as defined in the Methodology Section."

Environmental Hazards / Explosion: "The region has been the location of several significant hazardous materials incidents. In 1999, a large containment vessel used to distill hazardous material ruptured, and the subsequent blast led to the deaths of 5 employees and 14 injuries. The explosion damaged numerous buildings within the industrial park as well as residential structures in the adjacent area.  ... Additionally, in March of 2009, Wind Gap Borough in Northampton County was impacted by the spill of hydrogen fluoride following a motor vehicle accident. The incident took place on Route 33 just south of the borough. A truck carrying more than 33,000 pounds of chemical products rolled onto its side, closing the road for hours and forcing 5,000 people to evacuate. ... Another incident occurred in August 2011 on Interstate 78 near the Route 100 interchange. A tractor trailer involved in a collision spilled more than 7,000 gallons of motor oil on the roadway and into the nearby soil and waterways.194 This incident lasted approximately 18 hours, prompting Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to mill and resurface the roadway. In total, the initial response was able to collect just over 4,000 gallons of product, leaving almost 3,000 gallons for the state and environmental cleanup agencies to handle. ... The Lehigh Valley is also experiencing significant growth in the number of warehouses. The proliferation of warehouses is likely to lead to an increase in the volume of hazardous materials in the Lehigh Valley, and improper storage and handling of these materials can cause injuries and require an emergency response. It is recommended that warehouses maintain a detailed record of the materials which are being stored so that emergency responders can better understand what hazards may be present in the event that an emergency arises at a warehouse. ... Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for environmental hazard/hazardous materials incidents in the Lehigh Valley is considered ‘highly likely’ as defined in the Methodology Section.

Fire (Urban / Structural): "Since 2001, nearly 2,000 structural fires in the Lehigh Valley have been reported. Please note that due to archiving processes and reporting requirements prior to 2007, databases may not be complete and do not necessarily represent every structural fire that occurred. However, using these sources represents the most accurate probability estimates possible. "

The Lehigh Valley has seen some notable fires since the turn of the century. In March of 2008, the City of Bethlehem, Northampton County reported a fire loss in a row of joined homes. The fire claimed the lives of four children, injured one child and injured four emergency workers, making the fire the second deadliest in the history of the City of Bethlehem. 

"Plainfield Township experienced a catastrophic fire at an industrial site in 2011. The site provided the plastics industry with plastic, glass and metal separation and grinding services. In March of 2011, a fire was reported within the structure, which led to a five-county fire response that continued for more than 36 hours. At one point fire crews were using approximately 8,000 gallons of water per minute and special foam trucks from Lehigh Valley International Airport to extinguish the flames.203 Once extinguished, the building and all products on-site were deemed a loss, with a total cost in excess of $9 million. 

"In April 2023, a massive fire broke out at a warehouse in West Easton. In addition to destroying the warehouse, the blaze also damaged several surrounding structures before firefighters were able to extinguish it. The response required hazmat crews because of the chemicals believed to be stored at the site, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environment performed air and water quality tests in the area. Despite more than 20 fire marshals from across the area being involved with the investigation, officials eventually determined that it was not safe or feasible to determine the specific cause of the fire."

"Major fires will continue to occur several times a year, particularly in dense, urban areas with aging building stock. Future occurrence of structural fire is thus “highly likely” as defined in the methodology section."

Levee Failure: There are are four USACE levees or floodwalls in the Lehigh Valley: Allentown (Sewer Treatment Plant) Levee, Salisbury Levee, Allentown-Jordan Creek Floodwall and Bethlehem Levee System. There are no reported levee failures, and the probability of one occurring is unlikely. 

Nuclear Incident: "The Limerick Generation Station and the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station are both located outside the Lehigh Valley but maintain 50-mile ingestion exposure pathway zones that include parts of the region. Limerick is south of the Lehigh Valley in central Montgomery County, and Susquehanna is northeast of the region in Luzerne County. ... The Limerick and Susquehanna plants have both experienced unplanned, sudden shutdowns – also known as scrams – of their nuclear reactors as recently as 2020. On May 3, 2020, the Susquehanna unit 1 reactor automatically shut down due to a trip of the main turbine. The reactor water level lowered to - 1 inch causing Level 3 (+13 inches) isolation. However, the operations crew subsequently maintained reactor water level at the normal operating band, and neither the Emergency Core Cooling System nor Reactor Core Isolation Cooling were necessary. 218 This event was classified as a non-emergency by the NRC. On November 13, 2020, the Limerick unit 1 reactor automatically shut down due to a valid Reactor High Pressure signal (1096psig). The NRC determined that the closure of the 1B Inboard Main Steam Isolation Valve (MSIV) caused the pressure within the reactor to rise until it exceeded the Reactor Protection System setpoint of 1096psig. Once the setpoint was exceeded automatic systems shut down the reactor, and the pressure was normalized via steam bypass valves. Like the scram at the Susquehanna plant in the same year, the 2020 scram at Limerick was classified as a non-emergency by the NRC. Despite the classification of non-emergency, both events were reported to NRC Resident Inspectors, Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, as well as the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency."

"Due to the extreme rarity of nuclear emergencies in the United States and the complexity of safety regulations guiding the actions of nuclear facilities, the probability of occurrence for a nuclear incident which impacts the Lehigh Valley is ‘unlikely’."

Structural Collapse: "Historical records for the Lehigh Valley, submitted annually to the state, note two incidents of structural collapse, not generated as a cascading impact from a separate incident, over the past two decades. In 2006, while constructing a new apartment building in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County construction crews reported a catastrophic failure of the structure. No injuries resulted from this incident. In 2007, a ceiling within a commercial building in Bangor Borough, Northampton County failed, temporarily trapping four individuals. In addition to stand-alone incidents, some notable structural failures based upon other incidents have caused significant damage within the Lehigh Valley. "

Lehigh County has been home to notable structural collapses suspected of being generated from incidents such as water main breaks or sinkholes. The most notable of these incidents happened in 1994 in the City of Allentown. A commercial structure valued at more than $9 million was impacted by a large sinkhole, which caused the failure of systems within the structure. Following unsuccessful mitigation attempts, the structure was imploded to minimize any additional damage to surrounding structures. 

Similar to Lehigh County, Northampton County has also been impacted by structural collapses based upon cascading events. In 2008, a large sinkhole at an apartment complex in Hanover Township forced the evacuation of more than 40 residents. The incident caused the failure of load bearing walls within the structures, ultimately leading to the demolition of the two buildings. In addition, the City of Easton evacuated an apartment complex in 2004 following the development of a large sinkhole. The structure sustained partial failure of load bearing elements forcing the relocation of 25 residents. Additional information on land subsidence (sinkhole) frequency can be found in the Subsidence / Sinkhole profile.

"On January 28, 2022, the 447-foot-long Fern Hollow Bridge in Allegheny County fell approximately 100 feet into the ravine below. At the time of its collapse, there were four passenger vehicles and a bus on the bridge, and 10 people were injured in the collapse. ... The Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge in the City of Bethlehem uses a rigid K frame design similar to what was used for the Fern Hollow Bridge. The similarity of the design led PennDOT to review the structural adequacy of the Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge, along with 4 other bridges in Pennsylvania, immediately after the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge. PennDOT assessed the condition of the bridges as “fair” and did not require posting weight restrictions. However, the cause of the Fern Hollow Bridge Collapse has not been officially determined, and officials in the Lehigh Valley should watch for any updates from the NTSB which may be relevant to the Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge.

"Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for structural collapse events in the Lehigh Valley is considered ‘possible’ as defined in the Methodology Section."

Terrorism: Suspected Terrorism in Lehigh Valley between 2018-2023: 

"Prediction of terrorist attacks is almost impossible because terrorism is a result of human factors. As long as fringe groups maintain radically different ideas than that of the government or general population, terrorism is a possibility."

Transportation Crash:  "According to the most recent report, there were 38,146 documented crashes within the Lehigh Valley between 2018 and 2022. The DOT report also documents 238 fatalities which occurred as a result of these crashes. It is notable that in 2020 both counties recorded the lowest yearly crash totals during the 2018–2022 time frame, and this could be a reflection of lower overall traffic following the outbreak of COVID-19. Conversely, the yearly fatalities because of crashes do not follow the same trend, and both counties experienced an increase in the number of crash fatalities from 2019 to 2020.  ... Population growth and development trends in the Lehigh Valley will likely result in a corresponding increase of the risk of transportation crashes as more people and goods move within and through the area. If the transportation crash statistics recorded between 2018 and 2022 are representative of near future conditions, the Lehigh Valley can anticipate an average of 7,629 automobile crashes and 48 automobile crash fatalities per year."

Utility Interruption:  "The Lehigh Valley suffered a significant utility interruption in October 2011, when an early snowstorm dropped between six and ten inches of wet snow on trees that still had leaves on them, causing historic numbers of tree limbs and wires down, resulting in massive power outages. PPL and FirstEnergy, the two largest electric utility companies in the Lehigh Valley, reported over 109,000 customers without power for up to a week. Regional shelters and warming stations were opened throughout the Lehigh Valley to care for people without power. 

"In March 2018, a series of major nor’easters created widespread power outages across much of the U.S. Northeast, including the Lehigh Valley. The initial storm impacted Lehigh Valley on the morning of March 2, and by the evening of the same day there were at least 35,000 customers without power in the region.248 By the end of the next day, that number was reported to be closer to 100,000. This storm was only the first of four nor’easters to hit the Lehigh Valley that month, and reports of power outages accompanied each subsequent event.

"[S]everal recent and high-profile examples have highlighted the vulnerability of utility infrastructure to these attacks. Based on historical reports from 911 dispatch, small outages are likely to continue and should be considered “highly likely”".

Gas / Liquified Pipelines: "In February 2011, the City of Allentown was impacted by a catastrophic failure of a large gas main under a row of homes in the 500 Block of North 13th Street. The explosion killed five people and destroyed six homes. The incident forced the evacuation of hundreds of residential and commercial properties, including a senior living complex on the adjoining block. Since that incident, the Lehigh Valley has been impacted by numerous failures of infrastructure causing smaller explosions with less impact. PHMSA records of pipeline incidents since 2003 lists 13 separate events which occurred in the Lehigh Valley, all within Lehigh County. ... . The PHMSA records show no pipeline incidents occurring in Northampton County since 2003.

"According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, there are multiple pipelines under development which will transit the Lehigh Valley. Additionally, data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reveals that 63,311 miles of pipeline was constructed across the U.S. in 2022, which is the most in a single year since DOT began tracking this in 2006. It is also a 70% increase from the total pipeline mileage constructed in 2021 (45,532 miles).

The County EMS is predicting one incident every 18 months.

Cyber-Terrorism (and cyber-attacks): "One of largest cyber-attacks targeting an entity within the Lehigh Valley was detected in Allentown on February 15, 2018. Unfortunately, the attack was well underway by the time it was discovered, and many devices used by the Allentown city government had already been infected by a serious computer virus known as Emotet. The virus stole credentials of city workers and severely disrupted government functions, as well as other services which used information technology assets belonging to Allentown. Among other things, the finance department of Allentown could not complete any external banking transactions, video surveillance networks were down, and local law enforcement was unable to access databases controlled by the Pennsylvania State Police. It took Allentown nearly two weeks to restore some of the impacted services, and the cost to remove the virus from Allentown systems was approximately $1 million.268 Unfortunately, the ease with which the perpetrators of these attacks can remain anonymous makes it difficult to determine the motivation behind this attack. However, the circumstances of the attack seem to indicate that its purpose was disruption rather than personal gain, and this is a characteristic of cyber-terrorism. 

"Another serious incident occurred in February 2023, when the Lehigh Valley Health Network was targeted by an advanced cyber-attack. In this instance, malicious software (malware) named “BlackCat” obtained access to highly personal and sensitive information, and the group behind the attack threatened to publish this information unless a ransom was paid. The attack was traced back to a nefarious cyber group associated with Russia, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has stated that the BlackCat attack is a new but “exceptionally capable” malware. 269 While the attack appears to have been motivated by personal gain, the nature of the attack is alarming and exemplifies some of the difficulties associated with preventing cyber-attacks and cyber-terrorism. First, it can be exceptionally difficult to stop or hold accountable the perpetrators of such attacks when they originate from outside of the U.S. Second, the possibility of foreign governments providing implicit or explicit support for malicious cyber-activity may significantly increase the sophistication of attacks. 

"Societal trends and the increasing complexity and interconnectivity of technology create an environment where the frequency of cyber-attacks and cyber-terrorism risks are likely to continue to rise. Concern about cyber-terrorism throughout the U.S. is growing as its impacts could have potentially crippling effects. Although advancements in defenses against these attacks are continuously being made, the possibility of cyber-attacks, some of which may constitute cyber-terrorism, will continue to remain a significant risk within the Lehigh Valley."

What Are the Lehigh Valley's Natural Hazards?

Earlier this week, I told you that both Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management agencies are in the process of updating the Lehigh  Valley Hazard Mitigation Plan Hazards. It identifies both natural and man-made hazards. Below is a listing of the natural hazards considered here in thye Lehigh Valley, which include a summary of past occurrences and an estimate of the likelihood of recurrence.  I'll list man-made hazards on Friday. 

Drought: "Predicting the frequency of droughts is challenging. However, droughts appear to be cyclical, implying they'll reoccur in the future. In fact, periodic droughts are commonplace in almost all U.S. climates."

Earthquake: "Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, as well as previous historical earthquake events, the probability of occurrence for earthquake events in the Lehigh Valley is considered Unlikely (less than 1% annual probability), as defined in the Methodology Section."

Extreme temperature: "The highest temperature ever recorded in the region was 105°F on the 4th of July weekend in 1966, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was -15°F on January 21, 1994. Since 1996, the Lehigh Valley was subject to more than 196 extreme temperature events. ... Over the 27 years of record keeping of extreme temperature events (1996-2023), there have been 196 recorded events, an average of 7.25 events per year. In the last 10 years, 2013 – 2023, there has been an extreme temperature event in 7 of the 10 years. As such, the probability that the Lehigh Valley will experience an extreme temperature event in any given year is Highly Likely."

Flood, Flash Flood, Ice Jam: "The Lehigh Valley has a long history of flooding events. According to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Storm Events Database, the Lehigh Valley experienced 235 flood events between January 1, 1996, and March 31, 2023. These floods resulted in one death, four injuries, an estimated $145.75 million in property damages, and approximately $2 million in crop damages. ... Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for flood events in the Lehigh Valley is considered Highly Likely with a higher than 90% probability of annual occurrences as defined in the Methodology Section."

Hailstorm: "Hailstorms can occur as a routine part of severe weather in the Lehigh Valley. The potential for hail exists throughout the Lehigh Valley, with a few minor incidents recorded each year. ... Based on historical occurrences of hailstorm events retrieved from NCEI, the probability of occurrence for hailstorm events in the Lehigh Valley is considered Highly Likely, greater than 90% annual probability as defined in the Methodology Section."

Invasive Species: "Invasive species have been entering the Lehigh Valley for quite some time, though not all occurrences have required government action. Specific occurrences and quantified losses were not identified for these invasive species in the Lehigh Valley. ... Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for invasive species impacting the Lehigh Valley is considered ‘highly likely’ (higher than 90% probability) as defined in the Methodology Section."

Landslide: "Pennsylvania has frequently been a hotspot for significant landslide occurrences due to its unique blend of a humid climate, locally intense topography, and the varied erosion and weathering characteristics of its sedimentary rocks. Additionally, human endeavors, including commercial, residential, and industrial development, along with transportation and mining projects, often intensify the susceptibility to landslides. ... From the perspective of the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies, the probability of landslides occurring in the Lehigh Valley is categorized as 'unlikely'."

Lightning Strikes: "Defined as a lightning strike resulting in death, injury, or damage to property or crops, a lightning "event" has specific consequences. From 1993 to 2023, the Lehigh Valley registered 86 such events, with Northampton County accounting for 60 and Lehigh County for 26, as documented by NOAA-NCEI. ... Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for lightning strike events is considered ‘highly likely’ as defined in the Methodology Section."

Pandemic and Infectious Disease: Includes data concerning incidence of COVID-19, influenza, West Nile virus and lyme disease. "Influenza is among the most common and recognizable diseases within the Lehigh Valley, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. as a whole. Influenza virus infections are detected year round in the U.S., although cases typically increase during “flu season” in the fall and winter months. ... Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies’ operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for pandemic and infectious disease events in the Lehigh Valley is considered ‘likely’ as defined in the Methodology Section."

Radon Exposure: The LV is in a "Zone 1" radon zone, "which means that the average indoor radon levels are likely to exceed 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). The EPA recommends that all homeowners who have radon concentrations of 4 pCi/L or greater take remedial actions to reduce the presence of radon. ... Radon is a constant threat throughout the Lehigh Valley. As a naturally occurring element, radon has been present in the ground across the Lehigh Valley since long before the area was settled. Overall, Pennsylvania is an area with historically high radon levels due to shear fault zones in the state that contain large amounts of uranium which eventually decays into radon. ... Radon exposure is inevitable given present soil, geologic, and geomorphic factors across Pennsylvania. In the future, the overall likelihood of radon exposure in the Lehigh Valley will remain high."

Subsidence/Sinkholes: "The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Sinkhole Inventory Online Database, along with the 2023 Pennsylvania State Hazard Mitigation Plan, recorded 470 sinkholes in Lehigh County and 677 in Northampton County between 2010 and 2013. Additionally, local data from the Lehigh and Northampton County Knowledge Center databases for 2012 and 2017 indicate 101 sinkhole incidents across 23 municipalities. Bethlehem Township experienced the highest number of sinkholes (28), followed by Palmer Township (19), Easton (12), Hanover Township in Northampton County (6), and Lower Saucon Township (5). ... . From the perspective of the Emergency Management Agencies of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, the likelihood of subsidence and sinkhole incidents in the Lehigh Valley is categorized as 'likely,' in accordance with the definition provided in the Methodology Section." 

Wildfire: "The Pennsylvania 2023 State Hazard Mitigation Plan notes reported wildfires and acres burned in the Lehigh Valley between 1992 and 2015. 122 wildfires in Lehigh County burned over 313 acres, while 87 wildfires in Northampton County burned more than 168 acres. 151 Wildfire events that were recorded in the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Storm Events ... with one death reported. In addition, Lehigh and Northampton County Knowledge Center databases identified 67 brushfires from 2012 to 2017. Information regarding damages, injuries or deaths was not available. ... Based on the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies operational viewpoint, the probability of occurrence for wildfire events in the Lehigh Valley is considered ‘possible’ as defined in the Methodology Section.

Windstorm/Tornado: "Data from the NCEI Storm Events Database reveals a notable increase in tornado occurrences over recent decades. Comparing two periods, from 1950 to 1995, a span of 46 years, there were 493 tornadoes recorded. In contrast, a shorter period from 1996 to 2021, lasting only 26 years, saw a similar number of tornadoes at 497. This trend appears to be more pronounced regionally and might partly be attributed to advancements in reporting techniques. According to a 2018 report by the National Weather Service, part of NOAA, the overall frequency of tornadoes across the United States has been relatively steady since 1950, suggesting that the observed increase could be linked to more sophisticated and thorough reporting methods. ... From the perspective of the Lehigh and Northampton County Emergency Management Agencies, the probability of windstorm and tornado events occurring in the Lehigh Valley is categorized as 'possible,' as outlined in the Methodology Section. This classification underscores the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of these natural phenomena."

Winter Storm: "Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Centers for Environmental Information reveal that between 1993 and 2023, Lehigh County encountered 256 winter storm events, while Northampton County faced 257. These events led to property damages of approximately $3.8 million in Lehigh County and $2.25 million in Northampton County. ... . Based on assessments by the Emergency Management Agencies of both Lehigh and Northampton counties, the probability of winter storm events occurring in the Lehigh Valley is classified as 'likely'."

SBA Establishes Loan Outreach Center For July Flash Flood Victims

From Northampton County: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) declared Northampton County a disaster area following the flash flooding and severe storms that took place on Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, 2023. The SBA opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) to assist those affected at Lower Mt. Bethel Township Centerfield Building (6984 S. Delaware Dr. Bangor, PA 18013).

The Center opened on Wednesday, Oct. 11, and will close permanently on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. SBA Customer Service Representatives are at the Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program, check an application’s status, upload documents, and assist with reconsideration requests.

The hours of operation are as follows:

• Wednesday, October 11 – 11am until 6pm
• Thursday, October 12 – 9am until 6pm
• Friday, October 13 – 9am until 6pm
• Monday, October 16 – 9am until 6pm
• Tuesday, October 17 – 9am until 6pm
• Wednesday, October 18 – 9am until 6pm
• Thursday, October 19 – 9am until 6pm
• Friday, Oct. 20 – 9am until 6pm
• Saturday, Oct. 21 – 10am until 2pm
• Monday, October 23 – 9am until 6pm
• Tuesday, October 24 – 9am until 6pm
• Wednesday, Oct. 25 – 9am until 6pm
• DLOC will be CLOSED the following dates: Oct. 14; Oct. 15 & Oct. 22

 

The SBA is offering the following Disaster Loans to eligible businesses, homeowners, and renters who qualify for recovery assistance:

• Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

 

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

 

• Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate, land improvements such as septic tanks or wells and personal property, including automobiles.

 

In addition to Northampton County businesses/residents, impacted businesses and residents in neighboring counties may also be eligible for assistance. Those counties include Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, and Monroe counties, and Warren County, NJ. To learn more about the programs and how to apply, please visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.

NorCo EMS Has Advice for Residents and Businesses Impacted by Flash Flood

From Northampton County:  Northampton County Emergency Management Services continues to work with municipal officials to gather accurate and detailed damage assessments following the severe flash flooding event that took place on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

As of today, Wednesday, July 19, ten total municipalities (public entities) have reported municipal damages:

• Bangor Borough (infrastructure, roadways)
• County of Northampton (bridges)
• East Bangor Borough (roadways)
• Forks Township (infrastructure, roadways)
• Lower Mount Bethel Township (roadways)
• Palmer Township
• Plainfield Township (infrastructure, roadways)
• Stockertown Borough (park, recreational trail)
• Tatamy Borough (municipal park)
• Washington Township (infrastructure, roadways)

 

Four municipalities have enacted Disaster Declarations due to damages sustained:

• Bangor Borough (7/17)
• Lower Mount Bethel Township (7/16)
• Plainfield Township (7/18)
• Washington Township (7/17)

 

Accumulative (countywide) damages are estimated to be $400,000 - $500,000, with multiple municipalities yet to report their estimated recovery and response costs. This estimated cost to date includes approximately $400,000 in damages to county bridges.

 

Northampton County Emergency Management Services is receiving reports of residential damages (Individual Assistance) from over 65 households across eight municipalities at this time:

• Bangor Borough
• Bushkill Township
• Forks Township
• Lower Mount Bethel Township
• Portland Borough (business)
• Stockertown Borough
• Upper Mount Bethel Township
• Washington Township

 

Residents and/or business owners affected by the flood events experienced on Sunday, July 16, are strongly encouraged to report damage to their local municipalities and also complete the damage questionnaire on the Northampton County Emergency Management Services website http://ncem-pa.org/ to start the countywide assessment process. This will ensure that the County sends detailed damage reports to both PEMA and FEMA to receive funding for those impacted. All assessments received by Northampton County Emergency Management Services have been or will be entered into the Commonwealth’s damage reporter system as the information is received.

 

A Crisis Clean-Up Hotline has also been established to connect those affected with information and possible assistance: 844-965-1386. The Crisis Clean-Up Hotline is not affiliated with any local, county, state, or federal agency.

Should NorCo 911 Dispatchers Be Watching TV?

When you call a 911 operator, it's not to find out what movies are playing at the Carmike or Regal.For most of you, it's an emergency. Someone may be experiencing a heart attack. Perhaps you were involved in an accident. Every second counts. But according to several local police officers and 911 dispatchers, there's a real problem. Television, the opiate of the masses, is there to dull the senses of employees who should have no distractions.

Though I've never toured the 911 facility, I'm informed that one or more television screens are there for dispatchers. I could understand seeing one tuned into the local weather channel or a local news station.  But it is instead being used so that dispatchers can watch movies or Phillies games.

I have no quarrel with the dispatchers but do have a problem with supervisors who are allowing this to occur.

"Thy need to go," one police officer told me. "My life is on the line and my dispatcher is watching a movie. I have a real problem with that."

Perhaps they were distracted over the weekend, when a 911 supervisor botched a fire call for Bethlehem, and sent a code red out to the entire county, warning of a problem that was nonexistent.

911 Consolidation Between Bethlehem and NorCo Raises Concerns

Northampton County's 911 dispatchers fielded 97,000 emergency calls last year, 67% of which were from cell phones. There were even 161 emergency text messages. There were also 296,000 non-emergency calls. Bethlehem fielded about 40,000 emergency and 50,000 nonemergency calls, and dispatchers were able to use remote cameras to assist officers responding to crime or other emergencies in real time. What happens to those cameras when the County and City combine their 911 centers, as mandated by the state? That is just one concern raised by NorCo Council member Ken Kraft at Council's February 16 meeting.

Neither Northampton County nor Bethlehem has any say in this matter. This is a state mandate under a law enacted in 2015, increasing the fee charged for 911 services. Under this law, consolidation must be substantially completed by June 30, 2019.

Todd Weaver and Bob Novatnack, newly minted EMS Directors in NorCo and Bethlehem, said they have been meeting monthly to navigate this transition. Weaver estimated that this consolidation will require between 10 and 18 new dispatchers, each of whom takes a year to fully train. Novatnack added that Bethlehem currently has 22 FT and four PT 911 operators. They both acknowledged there are Human Resource issues.

The state has provided $8.1 million to facilitate this coordination. This money is being used to purchase new communication centers in Bethlehem, Allentown and in both counties. They will be connected to each other, so that if one goes down, the other can act as a back-up.

Kraft, who represents Bethlehem on Northampton County Council, wanted to know whether the consolidated dispatchers will still have the same camera access as they currently have in Bethlehem, which enables them to assist police officers in finding fleeing suspects.

Weaver and Novatnack danced around the question. Weaver said that monitoring cameras is a "law enforcement activity," while Novatnack suggested that operators in Bethlehem will still man the cameras. .

"It just seems like it's not going to go as smooth as it sounds," worried Ken Kraft Weaver said there will be "bumps in the road."

"I hope the County doesn't drop the ball," said Kraft.

Hayden Phillips warned that this consolidation is just the first step. He said there are reports that the state's ultimate plan is to have one regional communications center for the entire Lehigh Valley.

NorCo Emergency Management Has Had No Director For Over a Year

We're fortunate to live in an area that has no major snowstorms like the Blizzard of '16, or major storms like Hurricane Sandy or Irene, with people out of power for days at a time. We can count ourselves fortunate that we have no major highways intersecting the Lehigh Valley like Routes 78 or 33, with chemical spills that make it necessary to evacuate residents in Plainfield Township, or bus accidents involving Lehigh university students. We have no reason to be concerned about raging stormwaters that strand motorists and residents or fires like the one at the Nicos Polymer Co., which might still be burning for all I know. We never

That's the Lehigh Valley in another dimension. In this one, we do have our share of natural disasters. For years, we could always count on Bob Mateff, Director of NorCo Emergency management Services, to be prepared for all contingencies.

A little over a year ago, Mateff left his job at Northampton County to become Deputy Director of Emergency Management.

Executive john Brown has allowed thos position to remain vacant since that time.

Here's a message from someone at the 911 Center.

Those of us at the 911 center have been without leadership. Brown has refused to hire a County resident endorsed by the majority of fire & police chiefs after 3 rounds of interviewing. The individual even had PEMA and FEMA endorsements. The acting director is under investigation by HR and they won't tell us why. The 911 Center and Emergency management is rudderless. God forbid we have a repeat of hurricane Sandy or major disaster. Check it out. Brownie and crew have another mess on their hands.

The word I have is that brown had hired someone who got cold feet at the last minute and decided to turn down an offer.

But allowing this public safety leadership position to remain vacant for so long is still irresponsible.

Maybe Brown should spend a little less time running for Auditor General and a little more time doing they job he was elected to do.

NorCo Police, Fire and EMS Live Audio

You can listen in on live Northampton County police, fire and EMS radio transmissions here. Lehigh County is here.

HAM Radio Operators Prepare For Emergencies

Ham operators set up six meter antenna at Louise Moore Park

In a day of cell phones and satellites, people no longer pay much attention to ham radios. But when Hurricane Sandy stuck in 2012, and most Lehigh Valley municipalities were without power or cell phone service, it is the lowly ham radio that kept people in touch. Northampton County Emergency Management relied on them to keep in touch with outlying townships. So did the American Red Cross, which had ham operators at each emergency shelter. In the last weekend of June, amateur radio operators conduct an annual field day to sharpen their abilities to communicate without power.

Contacts were monitored at three different stations

The Delaware Lehigh Amateur Radio Club, based in Bethlehem Township, conducted their annual field day at Louise Moore Park in Lower Nazareth. For 24 hours straight, club members manning three stations made as many contacts with other ham operators throughout the country. At the end of 24 hours, they had completed 1,300 contacts in all 50 states,according to Stephanie Koles (WX3K), the Field Day Chair and burger chef for 130 participants,

Bilger scraped his elbow helping to erect antenna

One of these participants was 90 year old Ray Bilger (W3TDF), who brought and helped erect a six-meter antenna. A WWII vet, Bilger worked for 43 years at the Reading Railroad. But he retained his love of radio, and became licensed in 1946, right after getting out of the service. He can still read and send Morse code at 30 words per minute.  

He explained why ham operators are still so crucial. "If you have a major eruption on the sun, it will take all the satellites out," he explained. "And without the satellites, you don't have cell phones, you don't have TVs, you don't have nothing."

Rick Saeger (K300)is a world class contacter who'd like to see more young people involved. "It's a great hobby," he said. "It's family friendly. we'd like to get more people involved because it's a great hobby." His daughter Sara (K3000),now 23, was licensed at age 8.

Saeger stated you could get started in this hobby for under $100.

Because this was a 24-hour operation, some operators like Ben Ramig (KB3CTX) camped on site.

Lehigh County Has New EMS Director

From Lehigh County –Lehigh County Executive Bill Hansell today announced the hiring of Scott J. Lindenmuth as Lehigh County’s director of emergency management Services.

“I am pleased to have found someone so quickly who has such strong support in the emergency services community,” said Hansell. “We look forward to working with Scott as a leader on our team.”

Lindenmuth is the former Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Allentown. After his retirement from the city, he served as manager of LCCC’s public safety leadership center and project manager for adult learning and training grants as well as public safety grants from the federal government.

One of Lindenmuth’s initial areas of focus will be to increase the visibility of Lehigh County’s emergency management team in the community.

“I look forward to working with the staff at Lehigh County and participating with Lehigh County’s team of first responders and the community at large,” said Lindenmuth.

Lindenmuth will begin his new position effective April 29, 2013.

Lehigh County to Test Reverse 911 Tomorrow

When John Conklin was Director of Administration in Northampton county, he started a Reverse 911. Now Lehigh County Emergency Services is providing following suit with its own community notification system, intended to alert residents and businesses about emergencies that may impact their safety. Residents and businesses who already have landline telephone connections through such providers as Verizon, Frontier, and Ironton, are automatically included in this free notification system. Those with other services and devices as mentioned below are encouraged to sign-up for notification.

In the event of an emergency, Lehigh County Emergency Services may contact residents and businesses via the “Reverse 911” system to keep them informed about emergencies or other situations that may that may impact their safety or warrant community notification. The system will dial each telephone number registered within the affected area and will provide a recorded message with any pertinent information.

County Emergency Management personnel plan to send a test message tomorrow, and they advise those who receive the message to be aware that it is only a test.

“We have two goals in mind in announcing this service,” said County Executive Bill Hansell. “First, we urge everyone who lives or works in Lehigh County to sign up for these free notifications, and secondly, don’t hang up. We need users of the service to recognize a reverse 911 alert from Lehigh County Emergency Services and stay on the line to hear the message.”

Reverse 911 calls will be appear on caller IDs as “911Alert” and/or the phone number (610) 782-4600.

Residents or businesses who have landline telephone service provided by VoIP carriers such as Vonage, Magic Jack, and other companies need to register their home telephone number in order to receive alerts from this system. Cell phones and other wireless numbers also need to be registered by the phone’s owner. Notifications sent to cell phones will be based upon the address entered when registering.

“The Reverse 911 system was provided to Lehigh County through the North Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Response Group,” said Lehigh County Director of General Services, Glenn Solt. “There was no cost to the County for the purchase of the system.”

Northampton County Emergency Management Sees 36% Rise in OT

Northampton County's Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Mateff, whose department oversees both 911 and emergency management, had to explain a 36% increase in OT in 2011 during Monday's budget hearing. Between 2007 and 2010, OT had been going down.

Part of the reason, according to Mateff, was the hiring freeze last year. But then he pointed to Winter storms last year, the Nicos fire in Plainfield Township, Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and, of course, that earthquake.

"I'm pretty sure pestilence is next," he said.

Bethlehem Firefighters Mobilize to Keep Dewberry Ave. Station

Keep Dewberry Ave. Fire Station Open
The City Council Public Safety Committee, chaired by Dave DiGiacinto, will meet in Town Hall this Thursday at 7 PM to listen to public concerns about this anticipated closure. They will also listen to concerns about the EMS Center, for which a dedicated tax increase was enacted last year. A new Center at Illick's Mill Road was supposed to be finished by now, but Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan would rather place it at a closed fire station.

Stoffa Lauds Emergency Management During Hurricane Irene

I was very impressed by the way Northampton County Emergency Management Services handled Hurricane Irene. Throughout the storm, they kept us informed. But they did much more than that, as County Executive John Stoffa said at last night's short Council meeting.

"Last Sunday, I spent the afternoon at the 911 Center and the County Emergency Management Command Center. I need to inform you how impressed I was with that group, the teamwork, professionalism and overall competence of the staff. Bob Mateff [the Director] does a terrific job. To me, they're a well-oiled machine. They get along with each other and work as a team.


"That Center included a National Guard female Lieutenant who had access to military vehicles and personnel, along with three volunteers who would find alternate homes for animals, if necessary. I didn't even know we did that. But they all volunteered, sitting there and waiting for calls.


"Also, Joe Laky, Northampton County GIS analyst, was there mapping the rising water. I didn't know they have automatic readers in the river, and can tell that the water rises from a computer.


"Presently, the staff, including the assessment office, are coordinating the collection of what they call public assistance damage reports, from all municipalities and others, for reimbursement from FEMA. We were declared a disaster County by the Governor, and there is some possibility that a lot of the townships, boroughs and municipalities, will get reimbursed."

You can sign up with Northampton County EMS for email, cell phone, pager or smart phone notifications during any major emergency.

Dent: Statement on Allentown Gas Tragedy

LV Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) today issued this statement on the natural gas explosion earlier this week that claimed the lives of five Allentown residents:

“With search efforts for those who remained unaccounted complete, the people of Allentown now know the tragic scope of this Wednesday’s natural gas explosion. Five residents of the city lost their lives in the disaster, including three generations of a family that recently arrived in our area from the Dominican Republic and an elderly couple who first moved to 13th Street in the 1960’s. Both families exemplified the hardworking and community-oriented character of today’s Allentown. My thoughts and prayers are with the Cruz and Hall families, whose loved ones will be greatly missed.

“Following the explosion, my staff and I offered our support to city, county and state officials who would lead the recovery efforts. It is clear local first responders and relief agencies were incredibly prepared for this emergency, and have conducted their response operations in an extremely thorough and professional manner. While legislative business has kept me in Washington, DC this week, I intend to visit the site upon my return to the Lehigh Valley tomorrow.

“Although individuals injured by the explosion have received necessary medical attention and families displaced by the blast have begun returning to their homes, relief efforts are far from complete. I encourage any local residents who were affected by the tragedy and require assistance with a matter involving a federal agency to contact my District Office in Bethlehem.”

Lehigh County's New 911 Center Up & Running

You probably haven't noticed, but that's a good thing. Lehigh County’s new, $9.3 million, 9-1-1 emergency management center is now up and running at its new location in the Hamilton Financial Center at 638-642 Hamilton Street. The former dispatch and emergency management facility had occupied inadequate space in the Lehigh County Courthouse. The state-of-the-art center, which now occupies three floors in the Hamilton Financial Center, successfully went online earlier this month. The media will be taken on a "behind the scenes" tour today.

Technologically advanced centers like Lehigh's can do reverse 9-1-1, in which case certain areas can be notified in the event of an emergency. It's not flashy, but it saves lives. That's why both Don Cunningham and John Stoffa will both tell you that county government is the best kept secret in the Lehigh Valley.

But I'm unsure how 9-1-1 dispatchers should react when a woman calls, three times, to complain that her local MacDonald's has run out of Chicken McNuggets. "This is an emergency, if I would have known they didn't have McNuggets, I wouldn't have given my money, and now she wants to give me a McDouble, but I don't want one, this is an emergency!"