Hurricane Sandy: South Whitehall Information Center

As we hunker down to ride out Hurricane Sandy, we want to make sure that South Whitehall stays connected.

For live updates during the storm, be sure to download our App for your smartphone or tablet and 'like' Bethlehem Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Send us messages through social media and email (jennifer.rodgers@patch.com) and we’ll make sure the information is added here.

If you notice wires down or a tree across the road, please alert authorities and then let us know so we can spread the word quickly. You can add information or ask questions as part of this story in the comments section below.

South Whitehall Patch is all about connecting neighbors so we hope you’ll find this information hub helpful as we brave the storm together. Stay safe Bethlehem!

Police/Fire Calls

* According to scanner reports at about 6:20 p.m. a tree fell into a house at 1608 N. 20th St. Township officials say fire crews are on the scene. No information on whether there was anyone in the house.

* Scanner reports an electrocution at 7:13 p.m. at 2399 Huckleberry Rd. 52-year-old woman was injured as a result of trees that pulled down wires. #LVsandy

Outages

* 7:55 p.m. - Another 1,309 South Whitehall PPL customers w/out power. It's now 6272 - up from 4963 about 20 minutes ago.

* 9:30 p.m. - 6,170 SW PPL customers out of power but 1632 have been restored since storm began.

* 10:20 p.m. - 12,388 SW PPL customers currently without power.

* 10:44 p.m. - 14,344 SW PPL customers without power.

* 8:00 a.m. - 15,295 SW PPL customers out of power this morning.

School/Community Cancellations

* Parkland Schools are closed Monday and Tuesday. There will be no nonpublic transportation.

* St. Joseph the Worker School is closed Monday and Tuesday.

* Parkland Community Library is closed Monday.

* PennDOT photo-licensing centers in Hecktown and Allentown closed at noon on Monday.

* LCCC Campus is closed through Tuesday, Oct. 30.

* South Whitehall Administrative Offices are closed, Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Shelters

The American Red Cross opened an evacuation shelter at noon on Monday, Oct. 29, at 2121 City Line Road, Bethlehem to help residents affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team (LVCART) opened an emergency animal shelter at noon Monday at 2120 Avenue A, Bethlehem and is within close proximity to the Red Cross shelter. 

Shelter opens at Troxell School located at 2219 N Cedar Crest Blvd starting at 830 pm. SW urges extreme caution in your travels should you choose relocate to this shelter. Shelter at Troxell closed at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30. Officials say to use Ag Hall shelter

The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at the Agricultural Complex (Ag Hall) in Allentown very early Tuesday morning.

Business Closings

Lehigh Valley Mall is closed Monday.

Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley is closed Monday.

South Mall in Salisbury is closed Monday.

Walmart in Trexlertown and the entire shopping plaza is closed as of 3 p.m. Monday.

PLCB Will Close All PA Wine & Spirits Stores Monday due to Hurricane Sandy

Trash Collection

South Whitehall is picking up trash Monday as long as it remains safe. Tuesday's pickups postponed until Wednesday. Trash pick up the remainder of the week will be delayed one day from the normal pickup schedule.  Normal refuse and recycling pickup is scheduled to resume on Monday November 5. Contact J.D. Mascaro at 610-434-2501 with questions.

Emergency Operations Center

South Whitehall opened its EOC at the municipal building off Walbert Avenue at noon.

Lehigh County Government Center and Courts Offices will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday October 30 due to the storm.   Certain Emergency Functions will remain in operation, but all County and Courts Offices will be closed.

STORM DAMAGE CLEANUP
Please be advised that should there be a need to assist our residents with curbside storm damage cleanup (similar to last year), we will provide further details on the cleanup and schedule after the storm has passed through our area.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Public Works Department at 610-398-0407.

From Around Town

* 10:56 p.m. WAEB reports: We can confirm that there has been water infiltration into the New York City Subway tunnels under the East River.

* 10:57 p.m. National Weather Svc reports that Sandy is 10 miles SW of Phila. Max winds at 75 mph, travelling at 18 mph.

* 11:05 p.m. downed utility, PA 309 both directions North Mountain Rd/Mosserville Rd all lanes closed

* 10:57 p.m. National Weather Svc reports that Sandy is 10 miles SW of Phila. Max winds at 75 mph, travelling at 18 mph