2006 News
July 19, 2006
Excess of 50,000 Bucks Households Still Without Power
Emergency Management Agency Continues Recovery Efforts
The Bucks County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) continues its coordination from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to damage caused by last night’s storm. Representatives from the County Fire Marshal, Health Department, Emergency Health Services, the Area Agency on Aging and the American Red Cross all continue to work toward assisting residents without power throughout the affected areas.
Chairman James F. Cawley, Esq. announced earlier today that he has directed the county’s Area Agency on Aging to extend hours in its senior community centers, to allow for Bucks seniors to spend time inside the air-conditioned centers. All centers will remain open until 7 p.m. daily until further notice. For address and phone number information on the centers see the following link: http://www.buckscounty.org/government/departments/HumanServices/Aging/CommunityCenters.aspx.
“With so many residents affected by the severe storms, it was imperative that we stand up the EOC to allow us to provide maximum services and information to our residents,” Commissioner Cawley noted.
With the help of the American Red Cross, today at 2 p.m., the county opened an air-conditioned shelter at Maple Point Middle School, 2250 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Langhorne. The shelter will remain open until the need no longer exists. Snacks and water will be available.
The Bucks County Health Department urges residents to follow specific guidelines with regard to safe frozen and refrigerated food handling (click here for guidelines).
In addition, Dr. Eleanor Travers, Health Department director, advises those without power who rely on well water NOT to drink the water, unless it is boiled for at least five to ten minutes. The Health Department is available to provide additional information at 215-345-3318.
Chief Fire Marshal Nick Rafferty from the Bucks County Fire Marshal’s office points out that those who will be using generators to power to appliances in homes should take the following precautions: 1. Keep the generator outside the home. 2. Keep the generator away from openings in the home such as windows and doorways. 3. Point the exhaust away from the home. Chief Rafferty also encourages the use of carbon monoxide detectors when generators are being used, and as a general rule of thumb. Additionally, the chief advises residents to use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns. If candles are used for illumination, they should have globes surrounding them, placed out of reach of children, and kept away from combustibles.
The affected area extends one-mile wide between the Montgomery County border and Mercer County, NJ border in the lower middle portions of Bucks County. Thus far, Langhorne Borough, Middletown Township, Lower Southampton Township, New Britain Township, Warwick Township and Warrington Township have each declared a state of emergency.
The current population without power in municipalities throughout the county are as follows:
- Warminster Twp. -- 4,000
- Upper Southampton Twp.-- 800
- Northampton Twp. -- 10,000
- Middletown Twp. -- 17,500
- Bristol Twp. -- 2,500
- Falls Twp. -- 9,000
- Lower Southampton Twp.-- 7,000
- Warrington Twp. -- 1,000
- Warwick Twp. -- 500
The county has worked to ensure dry ice is provided for residents. It will be distributed at the following locations:
- Warminster: Warminster Plaza parking lot, 624 York Road
- Northampton : 55 Township Road ( Township Building)
- Middletown : (Genuardi’s) 168 North Flowers Mill
Residents should be cautioned to handle the ice with gloves.
As a result, as of 1 p.m. today, Bucks County has declared a limited emergency, in order to maximize resources. Five municipalities within the county must declare emergencies in order for the county to make their declaration.
The public information phone number at the EOC is 215-340-8722.