2006 News
July 19, 2006
Powerful Storms Leave 59,000 Bucks Households Without Power
Emergency Operations Center Activated to Coordinate Recovery Efforts
The Bucks County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 7:30 a.m. today in response to damage caused by last night’s storm. Several initiatives are already in place to assist those Bucks County residents who are without power.
Chairman James F. Cawley, Esq. has directed that the county’s Area Agency on Aging will extend hours for 12 of its 13 senior community centers, to allow for Bucks seniors to spend time inside the air-conditioned centers. The Benjamin H. Wilson Center in Warminster is currently without power. All centers will remain open until 7 p.m. daily until further notice. For information on the centers see the following link: http://www.buckscounty.org/government/departments/HumanServices/Aging/CommunityCenters.aspx.
“Our residents should know that we are leading a multi-agency operation in order to lessen the impact of the storm, and to resume normalcy as soon as possible,” Commissioner Cawley noted.
The American Red Cross has worked with the county to establish an air-conditioned shelter at Maple Point Middle School, 2250 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Langhorne. The shelter will open today, July 19 at 2 p.m. and will remain open until the need no longer exists. Snacks and water will be available. Although no animals are permitted in the shelter, pet owners seeking shelter can notify the Red Cross who will be able to assist with kennel information.
The Bucks County Health Department urges residents to follow specific guidelines with regard to safe frozen and refrigerated food handling (Click here to view).
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 their 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.
The affected area extends one-mile wide between the Montgomery County border and Mercer County, NJ border in the lower end of Bucks County. Thus far, Langhorne Borough, Middletown Township, Lower Southampton Township, New Britain Township and Warrington Township have each declared a state of emergency.
As a result, as of 1 p.m. today, Bucks County has declared a limited emergency, in order to maximize resources. The county is aware of 17 homes hit by downed trees and 180 road hazards resulting from the storm.
The public information phone number at the EOC is 215-340-8722.