Western Pa. Wakes Up To Flooding After Heavy Overnight Storms

A series of violent storms rumbled across Western Pennsylvania overnight, flooding roads and basements and knocking out power to thousands.

Thunderstorms flooded several areas along state routes 51, 30 and 119 and spurred a brief tornado scare in parts of Westmoreland and Allegheny counties — including a reported sighting of a funnel in Elizabeth Township.

Rihaan Gangat of the National Weather Service in Moon said there was no official verification of a tornado forming in the area as of late Sunday, although he did not dispute the legitimacy of a resident’s video, which showed a dark, wedge-shaped object.

“So far there haven’t been any reports of touchdowns out of that area,” Gangat said at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. “We did have a tornado warning out for the first storm because rotation was definitely seen but, because we lost daylight, it’s hard to tell if anything reached the ground.”

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8567781-74/flooding-township-119#ixzz3dAMvXbmk
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Pottstown / Tri-County Hurricane Sandy Aftermath Information

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Updated at 11:08 p.m.) POTTSTOWN, PA — Numerous power outages and downed trees are making travel dangerous this morning after Hurricane Sandy blew through the area.  Route 100 is closed in several locations due to wires including at Pughtown Road, Route 23, Prizer and Flowing Springs roads in Chester County.

The Perkiomen Creek is rising fast and is expected to crest later this morning.

In a press conference Tuesday morning, Gov. Tom Corbett asked residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, though this did not stop a crowd of people from lining up for coffee and donuts at the Pottstown Dunkin Donuts on East High Street.

Around 9 a.m., the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation lifted speed limit restrictions on most major highways in the state except for Interstate 90 and 79 in the northwest.  The remains of Tropical storm Sandy were slowly heading northwest toward the Great Lakes Tuesday morning.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20121030/NEWS01/121039979/trees-cause-havoc-after-sandy-hits-(video)&pager=full_story

Pottstown Borough Staff Have Taken Proactive Measures To Deal With Irene

Jason Bobst, Pottstown Borough Manager, reported that the Borough of Pottstown has taken a number of steps to make sure residents have the services they need once the hurricane hits; and in the case of a worst possible scenario, a place to go!

The water and sewer plants have enough diesel fuel to run on until Tuesday, in the event electricity is lost.

A temporary shelter is being set up at Pottstown High School in the event that anyone in Western Montgomery County is forced from their home and needs shelter.

Jason is also asking residents to please not drive through barricaded areas where there is high water.  Someone always does this and has to be rescued.  FYI… if you do this and get caught you will get a summary violation and fined.  This typically happens on Industrial Hwy or College Drive.

Borough employees are also ready to deal with fallen trees in the Hylton State Forest.  They have the equipment in place to handle any trees that are toppled by the storm and dispose of them.

Pottstown will wait a while longer before deciding to declare a state of emergency.  If this happens the borough will work with local fire departments to alert residents in the evacuation areas.

Two Roy’s Rants thumbs up to the borough for being proactive!