Pennsylvanians were heavily engaged last week in responding to multiple natural disasters around the country this week-- Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and wildfires in the western United States.  Here’s a quick rundown on how Pennsylvania has helped, actions taken by EPA and DEP to deal with potential fuel shortages and tips from the PUC on preparing for Hurricane Irma, if it comes in our direction--

DCNR/PEMA Sending 9 Member Team To Staging Area In NJ To Prepare For Hurricane Irma; PA Responds To 3rd Natural Disaster

In response to a request from federal emergency response agencies, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Emergency Management Agency Wednesday are sending a 9 member team to Fort Dix in New Jersey to help handle emergency supplies supporting the federal response to Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean.

The request was made through the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Emergency Management  Agency.  There will be 6 DCNR Bureau of Forestry staff and 3 from PEMA.

The team will gather at 11:00 a.m. today and the PEMA Special Ops Center, 100 Pine Drive in Harrisburg.

The team expects to be deployed for up to 14 days.

NewsClips:

Hurricane Irma’s Track: Latest Predictions, What We Know 

A Hurricane Looms, Lackawanna Community Steps Up 

Lehigh Valley Agencies Gearing Up To Help With Irma Relief 

DCNR/PEMA Sending 9 Member Team To Staging Area In NJ To Prepare For Hurricane Irma; PA Responds To 3rd Natural Disaster

DCNR Emergency Response Team Sent To NJ To Aid With Hurricane Irma Relief

AP: Teams From PA Headed Out To Help With Hurricane Irma

Philly First Responders To Help In Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts

Hurricane Irma Could Drive Gas Prices Even Higher

Florida Families With Western PA Ties Prepare For Irma

PA Natives Turn To Charter Flights To Escape Irma

Irma Evacuees Land In Philly As Powerful Hurricane Nears Florida

If Hurricane Irma Hits PA, Are We Prepared?

Gasoline Trucks U-Turn Amid Irma Fears As Shortage Shifts From TX To Florida

AP: Most Florida Flood Zone Property Not Insured

{Posted: Sept. 6, 2017]

200+ Pennsylvanians Deploy To Fight Wildfires In Western U.S., The Other Natural Disaster

More than 200 Pennsylvanians have deployed to fight wildfires in California, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming in recent months, according to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Tuesday.

The latest 20-person wildfire fighting team flew out of Harrisburg August 31 for a 2-week deployment in Montana.  The group is expected home about September 14.

The all-volunteer, highly trained crews are made up of DCNR Bureau of Forestry employees and members of local volunteer fire companies. There continues to be an extremely high demand for firefighting resources in western states.

For more information on fighting wildfires, visit DCNR’s Wildfire webpage.

(Photo: Montana Wildfire courtesy of Keystone Wildfire Crew based in Lancaster.  Click Here to view more.)

NewsClips:

Wildfire Season Among Worst In U.S. History: Here’s Why

80 Large Wildfires Burn In Western U.S., Destroying Homes, Prompting Evacuations

Ash Covers Oregon Cities, Wildfire Smoke Chokes American West

Wildfire-Weary Western U.S. Coughs Through Late-Season Surge

AP: Billions Of Dead Trees Force U.S. Forest Fire Crews To Shift Tactics

[Posted: Sept. 5, 2017]

PUC Offers Tips As Hurricane Irma Approaches: Prepare, Report Outages, Stay Safe

The Public Utility Commission Friday reminded residents across the state that preparation and awareness are essential parts of storm safety, as Hurricane Irma approaches the east coast.

“Time spent on planning and preparation before any storm can go a long way toward keeping yourself and your family safe when severe weather hits,” said Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “Additionally, there are many things that consumers can and should do to protect themselves and to help ensure that storm-related problems are addressed as quickly as possible.”

Click Here to watch a video from Chairman Brown on storm-related tips.

Pre-Storm tips:

-- Write down, print or save toll-free outage hotlines for your electric utility and/or your natural gas utility.

-- Save the Internet address for your utility’s outage reporting system, which can provide updates on repair and restoration efforts. Those electric utility outage sites and natural gas company websites.

-- Keep your cell phone charged, so you can contact your utility, other emergency services and family members during any power outage.

-- Secure necessary food, medicine and other supplies, including batteries for flashlights.

Should you lose power during a storm, the PUC offers the following tips:

-- Call your utility hotlines. Do not assume that the utility already knows about your outage or that neighbors have already called.

-- Use a phone that does not require electricity, such as a cellular phone or corded phone. Cordless phones will not work without electricity.

-- Do NOT call 9-1-1 to report power outages. Those calls take dispatchers away from other emergencies and can also slow a storm response because you're not talking directly to the utility.

-- SPECIAL NOTE: If you have a downed power line or another hazardous situation, call 9-1-1 and then contact your utility.

-- Do NOT touch or approach any fallen lines, and stay away from objects or puddles in contact with downed power lines.

-- Do NOT try to remove trees or limbs from power lines.

-- Turn off lights and electrical appliances (except for the refrigerator and freezer). When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary "surges" or "spikes" that can damage equipment.

-- After you turn the lights off, turn one lamp on so you will know when power is restored. Wait at least 15 minutes after power is restored before turning on other appliances.

-- Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns for emergency lighting. Do not use candles or other potential fire hazards.

-- If you use a generator, do NOT run it inside a home or garage. Also, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator, not your home's electrical system, which could shock or injure utility crews working on nearby power lines. Additional generator tips are available here.

-- Electric power outages can affect gas furnaces and other appliances. If they do not function properly when power is restored, call a professional for service.

-- If you smell natural gas, get everyone out of the building immediately. Leave the door open and do NOT use phones, switch lights or turn appliances on or off, or take any other action while inside the building. After you are safely outside, call 9-1-1 from your cell phone or neighbor’s home.

-- Check on elderly neighbors and those with special needs who might need additional assistance.

Chairman Brown noted that there is extensive behind-the-scenes work when storms approach Pennsylvania, to quickly address problems and restore service as rapidly as possible.

“Utilities put their storm plans into motion; crews and equipment are positioned for quick response to outages; and communication with emergency management coordinators is enhanced.  During storm emergencies, the PUC continuously monitors utility issues and works closely with the Governor’s Office and the other state agencies involved in Pennsylvania’s coordinated storm response.”

The Commission encourages residents to monitor storm forecasts and official information as this storm approaches, and to take steps to safeguard themselves and their families before, during and after any severe weather.

[Posted: Sept. 8, 2017]

EPA Extends Waiver For RFG & Low-RVP Gasoline Through Sept. 26, DEP Matches Action

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency late Thursday extended the waiver for reformulated and low-RVP gasoline for Pennsylvania and 37 other states through September 26 due to the impact damage from Hurricane Harvey is still having on reliable gasoline supplies.

This waiver allows for the sale of wintertime RVP in summertime RVP areas through the end of the summertime RVP season on September 15, while conventional gasoline may be sold in RFG areas until September 26, 2017.

Click Here for a copy of the new EPA waiver.

DEP announced Friday it is matching EPA’s waiver and will not enforce the fuel requirements for the duration of the waiver period.  DEP said it does not anticipate significant adverse air quality impact in the covered areas.

Click Here for a copy of DEP’s announcements.

NewsClips:

Fuel Prices Nudge Up, But National Gasoline Crisis May Be Nearing End

Cusick: Gasoline Price Spikes Caused By Harvey On Par With Katrina

Pittsburgh Gasoline Prices Spike In Wake Of Harvey

Gasoline Price Hike Highest Since Katrina In 2005

Harvey Pushes Lancaster Gasoline Prices Up 33 Cents

Op-Ed: Oil Companies’ Greed Shows During Harvey

Harvey-Like Storm In Pittsburgh Would Put Downtown Under 25 Feet Of Water

PA National Guard Troops Deployed For Hurricane Harvey Recovery

Editorial: How Philly Can Avoid Flooding Like Houston’s After Harvey

AP: Superfund Sites Flooded In Houston Area, EPA Not On Scene

EPA Finds 13 Superfund Sites Flooded, Possibly Damaged After Harvey

Texas Expects EPA To Get On Top Of Flooded Superfund Site Risk

AP Pushes Back Against EPA’s Criticism Of Flooded Superfund Sites

Booming Houston Built Over Land Meant For Flood Projects

Will Future Storms Be Worse Than Harvey? Debate Over Climate And Hurricanes

Kummer: 5 Reasons We’re Seeing These Monster Hurricanes

Op-Ed: We Can’t Ignore The Role Of Climate Change Behind Hurricane Harvey

Trump Seeks $7.85 Billion For Harvey, Action On Debt Limit

Insurer: Property Loses From Harvey Could Hit $75 Billion

Dems Ask Trump To Reinstate Flood Standard After Harvey

Harvey Flooding May Cause Rethinking Of Flood Risk Areas

Op-Ed: Here’s What Harvey Taught Us About Risk, Climate And Resilience

Op-Ed: Here’s What Harvey Has To Teach About The Next Disaster

Editorial: Infrastructure Of Disaster

Costliest Natural Disasters In U.S. Since 1980

Rising Gasoline Prices After Harvey Threaten Trump Economy

[Posted: Sept. 7, 2017]

9/11/2017