2010-02-08


Allegheny County Storm Update as of 7:00 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 8

PITTSBURGH – Approximately 16,000 customers remain without electrical service in Allegheny County. Duquesne Light is reporting 3,800 customers without power, and Allegheny Power is reporting 12,000.

Seven more municipalities have declared disaster emergencies. They are Braddock Hills, Forward Twp., Kennedy Twp., Millvale, Mt. Oliver, Springdale Borough, and Wilmerding. This brings the total municipal emergency declarations to 41. A complete list is provided at the end of this release.

 

Allegheny County Government Operations on Tuesday

All Allegheny County departments and offices reporting to the County Executive will be open for business on Tues., Feb. 9. For a list of executive branch departments and offices, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/chart.

All divisions and departments of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, including all Magisterial District Judges’ Offices, Pittsburgh Municipal Court, and all auxiliary offices of the Court will reopen for normal business operations on Tues., Feb. 9. All employees should report for work as normally assigned. All persons having business with the Court, including prospective jurors summoned to appear on Tues., Feb. 9, are required to appear as previously notified.

For information regarding County Council, County Treasurer, County Controller, District Attorney and Sheriff, please contact those offices directly.

 

Allegheny County Emergency Services

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is requesting all residents and businesses in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh to keep fire hydrants clear of snow and other debris so firefighters can easily locate and access them.

“We are calling on all residents throughout the county and city to help our firefighters by clearing away snow and other debris from around fire hydrants,” said Allegheny County Fire Marshal Bob Full. “We know it’s a lot to ask, but we all need to pull together to protect our neighborhoods and communities. Please identify the nearest fire hydrant to your home or business and remove snow and other debris from around it. If the nearest hydrant is already clear, please do not pile snow around it.”

Allegheny County Emergency Services continues to ask motorists to limit driving and stay off of streets and roadways as much as possible to allow public works crews, power companies and emergency responders to conduct their work.

 

Allegheny County Public Works

Scotia Hollow Road in Jefferson Hills and McNeilly Road in Dormont are now open. The following county-owned roads are still closed due to downed power lines:

  • Lougeay Road in Wilkins Twp.
  • Cliff Mine Road in North Fayette Twp.
  • Pangburn Hollow Road in Elizabeth

 

Allegheny County Jail & Shuman Center

The Allegheny County Jail has canceled all visitations until further notice. The Shuman Juvenile Detention Center has canceled all visitations and clothing drop-offs until further notice.

 

Allegheny County Fire Academy

All classes at the Allegheny County Fire Academy are canceled on Tues., Feb. 9.

 

Allegheny County Parks

The ice skating rinks in North Park and South Park and the beginner ski slope and snowtubing area in Boyce Park will resume normal operating hours on Tues., Feb. 9. For hours of operation, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/parks.

 

Community College of Allegheny County

All CCAC campuses and centers will open at 10:00 a.m. on Tues., Feb. 9. Faculty members and students should report for classes that begin at 10:00 a.m. or later. Classes scheduled to begin earlier than 10:00 a.m. will not meet. All offices will open at 10:00 a.m.

The only exceptions to this schedule are the South campus Child Development Center and South campus cafeteria, which will be closed all day Tuesday. Please continue to monitor www.ccac.edu and the campus hotlines for updates.

 

Port Authority of Allegheny County

Port Authority is providing update on its website at www.portauthority.org and its Twitter site at twitter.com/pghtransit.

 

Allegheny County Human Services

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging encourages residents to check on older adults who live alone to ensure their well-being and safety during this severe winter weather. This includes verifying that their homes are well heated and that they have enough food, water and medication to last for several days.

The Area Agency on Aging has been taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of high-risk older adults who are registered for care management with the agency. This includes repeated phone calls to frail and homebound individuals, especially those who live alone. Additionally, many home-delivered meal participants who are considered the most vulnerable have received a box of shelf-stable foods and emergency supplies.

“Not all of the older adults in Allegheny County are registered with the Area Agency on Aging,” cautions AAA Administrator Mildred Morrison. “For that reason, we’re calling on the community to help to ensure that all seniors are kept safe during this particularly difficult weather. We are asking anyone who knows of an older person living alone, particularly someone who is frail, to please take the time to visit him or her.

“If the house feels cold, make sure the furnace is working. Be alert to dangerous methods of heating a room, such as open flames or ovens. Also, make sure there is food and water in the house. And please, make repeated visits to make sure everything is alright.”

Teenagers who are home from school on a snow day are encouraged to volunteer to shovel a driveway, walk a dog, or run an errand to help an older person during this severe weather event.

Information about programs and services for older adults is available by contacting SeniorLine at 412-350-5460 (TDD/TTY 412-350-2727) or seniorline@alleghenycounty.us or by visiting www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/olderadults.aspx

 

Allegheny County Shelters

The American Red Cross is operating shelters where people can spend the night and get warm meals. The shelters are:

  • White Oak – Rainbow Fire Department, 2916 Jacks Run Road
  • Elizabeth Twp. – Elizabeth Forward High School, 1000 Weigles Hill Road
  • Elizabeth Twp. – Blaine Hill Fire Department, 409 Oxford Avenue (Pet Friendly)
  • Bethel Park – Hamilton Presbyterian Church, 4500 Hamilton Road

For additional information on the American Red Cross shelters, call 1-888-217-9599 or visit www.swpa.redcross.org.

 

Allegheny County Warming Centers

Warming centers will continue to operate this evening. Warming centers are places where people can go, get warm and have a hot beverage and snack. The open warming centers are:

Baldwin Borough

McAnnulty Elementary School, 5151 McAnnulty Road

Bethel Park

Bethel Park Community Center, 5151 Park Avenue – open until 9:00 p.m. tonight and will reopen at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Mt. Lebanon

Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road

North Braddock

North Braddock Borough Building, 600 Anderson Street

North Fayette Twp.

Pittsburgh Technical Institute, 1111 McKee Road

Ohio Twp.

Fire Station, 1520 Roosevelt Road

Scott Twp.

Vanadium Woods, 50 Vanadium Road

Upper St. Clair

Fire Station, 2001 Washington Road

Verona

Fire Station, 465 Parker Street

West Mifflin

Fire Station, 3722 Rodeo Drive

 

Emergency Declarations

Allegheny County declared a disaster emergency at 6:30 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 6, as a result of severe winter weather conditions and heavy snowfall. The disaster emergency declaration enables Allegheny County to take all necessary actions to address storm-related issues, including bypassing standard procurement and contract procedures to hire temporary workers, rent equipment, and purchase supplies and materials if needed. The declaration also positions the County to request resources, assistance and funding from the Commonwealth and federal governments if needed.

In addition to Allegheny County, the following 41 municipalities have declared emergencies: Bethel Park; Braddock Hills; Carnegie; Castle Shannon; Clairton; Elizabeth Borough; Elizabeth Twp.; Findlay Twp.; Forest Hills; Forward Twp.; Glassport; Heidelberg; Jefferson Hills; Kennedy Twp.; Leet Twp.; Lincoln; McKeesport; Millvale; Monroeville; Moon Twp.; Mt. Lebanon; Mt. Oliver; Munhall; North Fayette Twp.; North Versailles Twp.; O’Hara Twp.; Pittsburgh; Pleasant Hills; Ross Twp.; Scott Twp.; South Fayette Twp.; Springdale Borough; Swissvale; Verona; West Elizabeth; Whitaker; White Oak; Whitehall; Wilkinsburg; Wilkins Twp.; and Wilmerding.

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