Delaware County Prepares For Winter Storm

Delaware County is gearing up for the major winter weather event that's hitting the area Tuesday.

County Council Chairman Mario Civera Jr. said that the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated at 10 p.m. Monday.

The County Council provides the following details on the preparations and key messages for residents:

• Increased staff levels for all shifts at the 911 Center starting at 10 p.m. Monday.
• Representatives from PECO, PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police, Comcast and emergency responders will be on standby to triage the best response to all emergencies.
• PECO and Exelon have emergency crews ready to respond to power outages.
• Government services that are critical, such Fair Acres and the Juvenile Detention Center, are making plans to ensure they are fully staffed.
• County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) arranged to have meals delivered early, to check on at-risk residents, and to have contingencies in place so all in-home services will continue. The COSA 24-hotline number can be accessed by calling 610-490-1300
• The Department of Human Services is working to ensure that all homeless and vulnerable residents have food and shelter. The Outreach Response Line number is 267-258-1974
• The Delaware County Crisis Connects Team is always available to residents who may be at risk for emotional crisis 24-hours a day at 855-889-7827
• Residents with an emergency are asked to call 9-1-1

The council urges residents to register for Delco Alert, the county's emergency notification system that alerts residents of emergencies, severe weather, road closures or other emergency events.

Residents can register on the county’s website here.

Registered residents will get alerts by e-mail, text message, and/or a phone call.

Residents can call 9-1-1 and they will be connected to their municipality’s resources.

Delaware County’s website also lists various resources that assist people during a storm including assistance for the elderly through our Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) and help for homeless and vulnerable citizens through our Department of Human Services.

“Our goal is to be proactive and keep our residents informed and updated,” Civera said.“As this storms hits our area our goal is to ensure our county has the resources it needs to keep our residents safe and warm and to address issues that might impact residents, from power outages and road closures to downed trees.

"The bottom line is County Council and our Emergency Services staff stands ready to help our residents get through this next storm," he said.

Delaware County Courthouse hearings scheduled for Tuesday, March 14 have been cancelled. For more information, visit the county court system website.

Image via Hans, Pixabay