Credit: PA Internet News Service
Local and state road crews spent Monday gearing up to tackle a blizzard set to punch the region starting late Monday night and continuing into Tuesday evening.
National Weather Service forecasters called the impending storm “very high impact” and urged resident to have an emergency kit on hand.
Locally, Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield have all declared snow emergencies.
The latest forecast as of Monday evening showed between 13 and 19 inches of snow falling in Lower Bucks County between Monday night and Tuesday night. The storm will also bring sleet, wind and the possibility of minor spotting flooding along the Delaware River.
A Blizzard Warning was issued for Bucks County as the storm approached.
“Snow will be of the heavy wet variety from Philadelphia and points southeast which may cause stress on the body when shoveling,” forecasters said.
A PennDOT spokesperson speaking to reporters at a yard in Montgomery County said more than 400 PennDOT truck and ones from its contractors will be on the regions state roads during the storm.
The spokesperson said despite the best efforts of road crews, he expects roads to become completely covered at some point Tuesday during the height of the storm.
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission placed restrictions on all interstates and expressways during the storm. Starting at 10 p.m. Monday, the Turnpike and I-95 will have a 45 mph speed limit. In addition, there will be a ban on tandem truck trailers, empty trailers, towed trailers, buses, recreational vehicles and motorcycles, a statement said.
“This is all hands on deck,” the PennDOT spokesman said.
Gov. Tom Wolf and other state officials give a briefing from PEMA.
Credit: PA Internet News Service
Gov. Tom Wolf spoke from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) headquarters outside Harrisburg and declared a Disaster Emergency for the state.
“This is a major snowstorm that will produce significant amounts of snow throughout the commonwealth, so we are asking Pennsylvanians to avoid travel on Tuesday unless absolutely necessary,” Wolf said. “We are also urging everyone to take necessary precautions in the event of widespread power outages, and to check on elderly neighbors in the event of an emergency.”
Wolf’s office said it was important to note the disaster proclamation does not restrict vehicle traffic, but they were encouraging drivers to stay home Tuesday.
Across Pennsylvania, nearly 700 National Guard troops were put on active duty to assists in any cleanup that is needed.
State officials explained that the Disaster Emergency declaration gives consumers some protection against “price gouging by prohibiting companies from charging a price for consumer goods or services that exceeds 20 percent of the average price that the consumer goods or services were sold for in the 7 days preceding the effective date of the Governor’s proclamation.”
“Power outages are of concern from both high winds and snow accumulation on trees and wires,” forecasters said.
A snow plow on State Street in Newtown Borough.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
A PECO spokesperson told NewtownPANow.com that more than 3,000 employees and contractors are ready to respond to regional storm-related damage.
One of the major concerns was related to the weight of the heavy, wet snow that will accumulate on trees and power lines. PECO officials said the snow could break branches that could impact power lines and cause outages during the storm.
Area first responders, state officials and PECO all urged residents to be prepared and have emergency supplies like batteries ready.
“We want all citizens of Pennsylvania to be protected, PEMA Director Rick Flinn said.
