70,000 remain without power; national guard mobilized
Governor Rendell says PEMA and the Pennsylvania National Guard are focusing attention on Chester, Delaware and Bucks counties, where 70-thousand people are without power.
About 70,000-people in the Philadelphia area could be without power through Sunday, but Pennsylvania’s top emergency managers say the state’s roadways have been cleaned up following this week’s twin snow storms. [audio:100211SDSNOW.mp3]
Governor Rendell says PEMA and the Pennsylvania National Guard are focusing attention on Chester, Delaware and Bucks counties, where 70,000 people are without power.
Major General Jessica Wright, who commands the National Guard, says 1,500 troops have been mobilized this week.
Wright: We have been on the traffic control points, both on 78 and 81 and in the city of Philadelphia. We’ve been transporting supplies and people. We’ve been working with the first responders. We’ve been doing warming stations. 400 soldiers are conducting presence missions in the Philadelphia suburbs without power.
That means they’re patrolling, looking for people who need food, water, help with transportation or other assistance.
Interstates 83, 81 and Philadelphia’s Schuylkill Expressway and Blue Route opened up this morning, and I-78 was back on line by early afternoon.
More snow is expected this weekend, but Rendell says the state will be able to handle it.
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