Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Be Prepared for Thunderstorms

Each year, the United States averages 300 lightning deaths and 80 injures. All thunderstorms produce lightning and have the potential for danger. Those dangers can include tornadoes, strong winds, hail, wildfires and flash flooding, which is responsible for more fatalities than any other thunderstorm-related hazard.

Lightning's risk to individuals and property is increased because of its unpredictability, which emphasizes the importance of preparedness. It often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.
Click the following link to download the Office of Emergency Management's Thunderstorms flyer.

Remember, during a thunderstorm:

• Stay inside a building or hard-top vehicle. 
• Avoid showering, bathing, and using a phone that has a cord, except in an emergency. 
• Unplug appliances, televisions and computers. 
• If outside, take cover immediately but never stand under a tall tree in an open area. 
• Don't touch metal, electrical equipment, telephones, bathtubs, water faucets or sinks.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Be Prepared to Evacuate with a Go Bag

In the event that you need to evacuate your home due to fire, flooding or another emergency, prepare a Go Bag with some essential items. Many of these materials can be found at a dollar store: 

• Copies of your important documents, such as insurance cards, photo IDs, birth certificates, deeds, and proof of address. Keep these in a waterproof and portable container. 
• Extra set of car and house keys.  
  
• Credit and ATM cards.   
• Cash, especially in small bills (ones, fives and tens).  
  
• Bottled water and ready-to-eat foods, such as energy or granola bars.   
• Flashlight and extra batteries.   
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries (You can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries.)  
• Medication. Be sure to refill medications before they expire. Keep a list of the medications each member of your household takes, why they take them, and their dosages. Also keep copies of all prescriptions, and your doctors’ and pharmacist’s contact information.   
• First-aid kit.   
• Sturdy, comfortable shoes, lightweight raingear, and a mylar blanket.   
• Contact and meeting place information for the members of your household (Family Emergency Plan).   
• A small regional map (Emergency Evacuation Route Map).   
• Personal care items: hand sanitizer, feminine products, toothbrush and toothpaste, toilet paper and wipes.  
• Special care items, including child care supplies, items for special needs and pet supplies.

For more information on Emergency Preparedness, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management at www.phila.gov/ready. 

State Road Stormwater Relief Sewer Construction Work Gears Up: Expect Traffic Delays on State Road

The Philadelphia Water Department’s construction of the State Road Parallel Relief Sewer continues and traffic delays can be expected during the next several weeks.
 

As part of the construction work, it will be necessary to remove bedrock to allow for the installation of the relief sewer. The Water Department’s contractor will use underground blasting operations to break up the rock making room for the trench that will hold the sewer.
 

The contractor will be conducting an underground test blast on State Road near Ashburner Street on Wednesday, March 24 in the early afternoon. Following the successful completion of the test blast, additional underground blasting will be required during the next several weeks for the relief sewer construction.
 

During the first phase of the operations, underground blasting will start on State Road near Ashburner Street and move approximately 500 feet northward. It is anticipated that one blast will take place at approximately 2:30 p.m. each day that blasting is scheduled, weather permitting. It is anticipated that the first phase of the underground blasting will take two weeks to complete.

Subsequent underground blasting may be required later in the spring or summer near the intersection of Pennypack Road and State Road following a review of the initial blasting operation.

As part of the relief sewer work, two northbound lanes of State Road between Ashburner and Grant have already been closed to traffic. Traffic on State Road is being rerouted so that there is now one lane northbound and one lane southbound in the normal southbound lanes. Concrete barriers have been erected.
 

The Philadelphia Police Department will stop traffic on State Road from Ashburner Road to Linden Avenue each day when the underground blasting will take place. Traffic will be stopped approximately five minutes before blasting begins and will remain stopped during and after the blasting, until it is confirmed that the blasting operation is successful.
 

The Philadelphia Water Department is installing the relief sewer to alleviate sanitary overflow to local waterways, such as the Pennypack and Byberry creeks. The overflow will be diverted to the new relief sewer and will end up at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant where it will be treated and safely returned to the Delaware River.
 

The new relief sewer will be a 14’ x 14” box sewer. At the deepest part of the sewer, it will run 30 feet deep at the bottom and will be approximately 16 feet under from the top. The cost of the project is $48 million.

Sunoco Refinery Alerts: Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management and Sunoco Refinery Join Forces for Public Notification

The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management and Sunoco, Inc. are partnering to provide text alerts to the public involving incidents at the company’s Philadelphia refinery that may impact the community.

Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management MaryAnn E. Tierney said, “Both the Sunoco Refinery and the Office of Emergency Management agree that our goal is to keep the public informed when an incident occurs at the refinery, whether it is an emergency or not.”

The “Sunoco Refinery Alerts” group will be used when an incident has a public impact, whether or not it is an emergency. Public impact is defined as an incident that may cause 
odors, noises, or visuals that are not normally present in the community. The group will also be utilized to provide alerts about unusual events or activation of the siren system. Alerts may be sent in anticipation of or during an incident. For example, an alert may be sent in advance of construction activity or during the release of an odor.

To ensure that the public is provided timely and accurate information, Deputy Managing Director Tierney encourages those who live and work in Philadelphia to sign up for these alerts at www.phila.gov/ready. Click on the ReadyNotifyPA logo. Select “Click Here to Register.” After you’ve completed the registration process, select “Sunoco Refinery Alerts.” It’s that easy.

ReadyNotifyPA is used by the City of Philadelphia to send emergency text alerts, notifications and updates directly to your cell phone, pager, BlackBerry, PDA, iPhone and/or email account.

In the event of an emergency – such as a major fire, severe weather, or road closures – local officials can send important alerts and updates right to your cell phone, other mobile device or email account. With the addition of “Sunoco Refinery Alerts” to ReadyNotifyPA, you can now sign up for notifications specifically about the Sunoco Refinery. The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management has provided training to key Sunoco officials who also have the ability to send text alerts when an incident occurs at the refinery that may impact the community.

“Sunoco takes its responsibility to the community very seriously. Partnering with the Office of Emergency Management to provide text alerts is an important example of our ongoing commitment to being a good neighbor,” said Thomas Golembeski, Sunoco’s Manager of Media and Public Relations.

ReadyNotifyPA is just one tool that the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) uses to get information to the public. In addition, residents should also tune to local TV and radio for important information, updates and instructions in the event of an emergency. They can also follow OEM on its social media networking sites – Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Blogger which can all be access from the OEM website at www.phila.gov/ready.

Mrs. Tierney reminds residents that it is important to prepare now for any kind of any emergency by developing a family emergency plan. The plan should include knowing how to shelter in place, knowing what to do if you need to evacuate, putting together an emergency supply kit, developing a family communication plan to keep in touch with loved ones during an emergency, and knowing how to stay informed during an emergency. 

For more information about how to prepare for emergencies and ReadyNotifyPA, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management’s website at www.phila.gov/ready.

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Related:

KYW Newsradio1060AM: South Phila. Refinery Agrees to Keep Philadelphia In The Loop

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Know How to Weather a Severe Storm

Since this is Severe Weather Week in Pennsylvania, here are a few simple tips for weathing a storm.

• If officials tell you to evacuate, grab your Go Bag and leave right away.
• Secure lawn furniture or garbage cans that could blow away and cause damage or injury.
• In extreme conditions, you may want to shut off power and appliance switches to prevent damage.
• Wear the right clothes for the weather conditions.
• Listen to KYW 1060 AM so you know what to expect. You can also get detailed weather information from National Weather Service radio broadcasts 24 hours a day. Special weather radios are available at local retail stores.
• Click to download the Weathering a Storm Flyer.

To learn how to be prepared for any kind of an emergency and for a list of supplies for your Shelter-in-Place Kit and Go Bag, visit www.phila.gov/ready or call 3-1-1.

Flood Watch: Weekend Rains Carry Potential Flooding

The Managing Director's Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the possibility of flooding in the Philadelphia area this weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, 2-4 inches of rain is expected beginning Friday night with the heaviest rain on Saturday. The rain is forecasted to end Sunday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the entire Delaware Valley based on this forecast.

Small streams would flood first, with the possibility of flooding on the larger rivers as well. Some tidal flooding on the Delaware River is also possible.

If you are driving and encounter flood waters or standing water, do not attempt to drive your vehicle through the water. Try to find an alternate route or wait until the water recedes. 

Before coastal or flash flooding occurs, the Office of Emergency Management recommends the following preparation tips:

• Sign up for ReadyNotifyPA, the region’s emergency text and email alert system, by logging on to www.readynotifypa.org.
• Know your area's flood risk. To estimate your flood risk and flood insurance premium, visit www.floodsmart.gov.  
• Make an itemized list of personal property, including furnishings, clothing, and valuables.
• Fill out an Emergency Plan Card containing important emergency information and contacts for you and your family.  
• If you live in a flood-susceptible area, keep materials, such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber, on hand to help protect your home.
• Consider getting flood insurance. Protection against loss due to floods is not covered under a homeowner's policy. Flood insurance is offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) .

If your home is susceptible to basement flooding you should:

• If possible, seal any floor drains in your basement, as they are the lowest points of entry of sewer backup.
• Do not store anything of value in your basement. If you have time before the next heavy rainfall, relocate your valuables prior to flooding.
• To prevent sewer blockages never pour grease, paint or other thick liquids into sinks or drains. Avoid flushing items that are not suitable for sanitary sewer disposal such as paper towels, diaper wipes, contraceptive and feminine products.
• Verify with your insurance company if you have flood and sewer backup coverage, especially if your basement is finished. This will usually require a separate rider to your policy.
• Never enter a flooded basement – the risk of electrocution is present. Wait for the water to subside.

For information about Flood Insurance or further Flood Preparation Tips, visit the Floods page of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management website, www.phila.gov/ready. 

When you change your clocks this weekend, remember to check your stock of  emergency supply items in your household emergency kits and “Go Bags” to make sure your supplies of water, food, and batteries have not reach their expiration dates. For a complete list of emergency supplies, visit What to Have in Your Home and What to Have in Your Hand pages of www.phila.gov/ready.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Spring Forward - Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks

Daylight savings time begins on March 14 and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management reminds the public to refresh their emergency supplies when changing their clocks with its “Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks” campaign.

“Make sure you have all of the necessary emergency supplies in your kits, and check the expiration dates on food, water as well as radio and flashlight batteries,” said Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management MaryAnn E. Tierney. “If you haven’t put together a family preparedness kit or a Go Bag of emergency supplies if you need to evacuate, do so now. The time to start planning for an emergency is not in the middle of one.”

Be sure that you have at least a three-day supply of bottled water, non-perishable foods and essential medications set aside for each member of your family. Remember your pets are part of the family too, so include some emergency supplies for them. And as always, don’t forget to check the batteries in your smoke alarms! As we prepare for the arrival of spring, make sure you and your loved ones are prepared for emergencies.

To learn how to be prepared for any kind of an emergency and for a list of supplies for your Shelter-in-Place Kit and Go Bag, visit www.phila.gov/ready or call 3-1-1.

KYW Newsradio 1060AM reports: http://www.kyw1060.com/Spring-Ahead-This-Weekend-for-Daylight-Savings-Tim/6559041

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Be Prepared for PA's #1 Natural Disaster

Flooding is the nation's most common natural disaster, and Pennsylvania has the highest flooding rate of any state.

Be prepared for flooding no matter where you live, but particularly if you are in a low-lying area, near water, or downstream from a dam. Even a very small stream or dry creek bed can overflow and create flooding, so follow these tips:

• Know your area's flood risk. To estimate your flood risk and flood insurance premium, visit www.floodsmart.gov. 
• Make an itemized list of personal property, including furnishings, clothing, and valuables.
• Fill out an Emergency Plan Card, which will contain important contacts for you and your family in the event of any emergency.
• Prepare a Go Bag that you can grab in case you need to leave your home in a hurry.
• Learn the safest route from your home or place of business to safe, high ground in case you have to evacuate. This should be part of your Household Emergency Plan.
• If you live in a flood-susceptible area, keep materials, such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber, on hand to help protect your home.
• Consider getting flood insurance. Protection against loss due to floods is not covered under a homeowner's policy. Flood insurance is offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

For more Flooding tips, such as how to recover from a flood, visit our Flooding page.