Corbett urges state agencies, residents to prepare for floods

    The National Weather Service is forecasting the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg will crest on Friday and Saturday.

    In anticipation, said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, specialized swift water rescue teams are coming in from western Pennsylvania, as they did during Hurricane Irene.

    “Last time we staged them for a short time at the farm show and then sent them to northeastern Pennsylvania and to southeastern Pennsylvania,” said Corbett.  “This time as they’re coming in, they’re being directed where to go.  And primarily they’ve been covering northeastern Pennsylvania.”

    Ten ambulances have also been sent from western Pennsylvania to help out Bradford County residents.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency says there are ongoing evacuations in Wyoming County.

    Five hundred National Guard members are standing by to assist in at-risk regions.

    Corbett says the risk of flooding appears likely to last through the weekend.

    PEMA is encouraging residents to create their own emergency plans by visiting ReadyPA.org.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal