Residents Reminded to Report Outages, Use Caution During Severe Weather, and Give Utility Crews Room to Work

HARRISBURG – As another major winter storm system moves across the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) reminds households of the steps they can take to prepare for, and recover safely from, storm-related power outages.

Additionally, the PUC cautions residents to give utility crews ample room to perform their repair work – for your protection as well as theirs – and to use extra care when traveling, watching for utility crews working along streets and roads and slowing down in work areas.

 “The combination of snow, ice, high winds and falling temperatures has the potential to disrupt utility service,” said PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille. “Time spent on planning and preparing before a storm can go a long way toward keeping yourself and your family safe when severe weather hits.” 

Storm Preparation Tips

The PUC encourages residents to consider the following tips before a storm strikes your community:Know Your Utility Hotlines – Write down, print or save toll-free outage hotlines for your electric utility and/or your natural gas utility, which are listed on your monthly bills and posted on the PUC website.

• Save Utility Website Address – Your utility’s outage reporting system can provide updates on repair and restoration efforts. Bookmark these electric utility outage sites and natural gas company websites.
• Keep Your Cell Phone Charged – A well-charged phone will keep you in contact with your utility, other emergency services and family members during any power outage.
• Secure Supplies – Keep necessary food, medicine and other supplies on-hand, including batteries for flashlights.

Power Outage Tips

Should you lose power during a storm, keep the following points in mind:

• Call Your Utility Hotline to Report Outages – Do not assume that the utility already knows about your outage or that others have already called.
• Keep Clear of Wires – Do NOT touch or approach any fallen lines.
• Stay Away from Objects or Puddles in contact with downed power lines.
• Do NOT Try to Remove Trees or Limbs from power lines.
• Pre-Charge Cellular Phones or keep a portable cell phone charger on hand.  Plan to use a corded phone, cordless phones won’t work without electricity.
• Do NOT Call 9-1-1 to Report Power Outages – report those to your utility. Calling 9-1-1 to report non-emergency issues like service outages can take resources away from other emergencies. SPECIAL NOTE: If you see a downed power line, immediately call your electric utility and/or 9-1-1.

Safety While Waiting for Power to be Restored

Households should consider the following tips to help stay safe until power is restored:

• Use Flashlights or Battery-Operated Lanterns for emergency lighting. Do not use candles or other potential fire hazards.
• 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.
• Leave One Light On – 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 Generators Safely – If you use a generator, do NOT run it inside a home or garage or anywhere close to a window or vent. Also, connect the equipment you want to operate 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.
• Check on Elderly Neighbors and those with special needs who might need additional assistance.

Natural Gas Safety Tips

Consumers using natural gas appliances can also be impacted by storms:

• Check Gas Appliances – Electric power outages can affect home appliances that operate on natural gas. If they do not function properly when power is restored, call a professional for service.
• Evacuate if You Smell Natural Gas – Get everyone out of the building immediately.
• Leave the Door Open and Do NOT Use Phones; do NOT switch lights or appliances on or off; and do NOT take any other action while inside the building.
• Call 9-1-1 from a safe location – After you are safely outside, call 9-1-1 from your cell phone or neighbor’s home.

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. Across the state, there is extensive behind-the-scenes work when storms are forecast, focused on quickly addressing problems and restoring service as rapidly as possible. Utilities are putting their severe weather plans into motion; crews and equipment are being positioned for quick response to outages; and communication with emergency management coordinators is enhanced.

The Commission also highlighted a short video highlighting storm outage heating safety tips, available on the PUC YouTube channel.

(Portersville, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle are reporting that a one car accident occurred at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 15, 2021, on Pa. Route 488.

State Police reported via press release that after investigation it was determined that a 2016 Mazda cx-5 driven Anthony Blizman of Zelienople was traveling west on Pa. 488 in Perry Twp. near Hickernell Road and while negotiating a right hand curve Blizman continued straight crossing the center line and crossing into the eastbound lane and off the roadway striking a boulder and then a tree.  Blizman was transported to Heritage Valley, Beaver. Troopers did not report the severity of his injuries. They were assisted at the scene by NOGA EMS and Perry Township and Ellwood City Fire Departments.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT has lifted the speed limit restrictions that were in place on several roadways in the region.

Due to the winter storm impacting the region, speed limits were reduced early this morning to 45 mph on all interstates and several other routes in the region. All speeds are restored to their usual posted limits.

PennDOT is continuing to treat roadways in the area and will continue until roads are clear.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh

Shania T. Walker, a 2016 graduate as its new softball coach

(Photo Courtesy of Coach Walker)

Story by Beaver county Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Last night Aliquippa School Board  approved the  hybrid model for instructing elementary school students beginning on Monday, March 1, 2021.   The junior/senior high school will begin the hybrid instruction on March 15, 2021. The plan is subject to review and change if needed.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Center Twp., Pa.) Center Township Police Department moved to its temporary headquarters at  the fire department’s social hall  located at 3385  Brodhead Road on Tuesday.  A new police  headquarters will be constructed at the Chapel Road site .

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver, Pa.) COVID-19 has  caused severe financial and emotional stress for many citizens, especially older people  who have less in person visits and family support during the  COVID-19 Older residents are increasingly reaching out to strangers for information or help. Isolated seniors  are answering their phones when strangers call. Too many callers are scam artists  that pose as government representatives. They also pose as helpers for respected medical, insurance or financial companies. They want you to  give them  your personal information  such as your full name, date of birth, social security number, Medicare number or account number.

Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

Allegheny County

1. Interstates 79, 376 (Parkways East and West), 279 (Parkway North), and 579
2. State Route 28

Beaver County

• Interstate 376 (Beaver Valley Expressway)

Lawrence County

• Interstates 79 and 376
• State Route 422

Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.

PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.

PennDOT also reminds citizens that downloadable materials, including home and car emergency kit checklists and emergency plan templates, are available at www.Ready.PA.gov or by downloading the free ReadyPA app for Apple or Android devices. Citizens can also find information about getting involved in local emergency response efforts and other volunteer opportunities through the ReadyPA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh

Keystone State News Connection

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new report highlights the advantages of kinship care for children in contact with Pennsylvania’s child-welfare system, and the need for increased equity in child placements.

Placement in foster care is traumatic for children and their families.

Studies show compared with children placed with non-relatives, kids placed with relatives or other adults with existing relationships experience better educational outcomes and maintain stronger family and community ties.

Rachael Miller, policy director for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said in 2019 fewer than 40% of Pennsylvania children in foster care were placed with kin, and the rates for permanent placements were even lower.

“Only 13% of children adopted from foster care were adopted by relatives and another 13% exited to guardianship with formal kin,” Miller outlined.

She pointed out Black and Hispanic children were less likely than Caucasian children to be permanently placed with kin.

Miller noted part of the problem is a lack of consistency in placement procedures across the state, and added each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties have independent child-welfare agencies, each with their own policies and practices for child placement.

“The first recommendation that we have is to update policies, regulatory practices and bulletins to eliminate those unnecessary barriers to identifying, locating and licensing kin as caregivers through the child-welfare system,” Miller explained.

She emphasized kinship placement is often denied for reasons related to poverty, not child safety, and those experiences are more like to impact communities of color.

Miller hopes the report will highlight the need to take a close look at laws and regulations governing child placement, the need for an unbiased process for kinship caregivers to appeal when disqualified for placement, and the need for increased data collection.

“We need to understand why kin are being denied, what services are being offered to support them, and how to increase the outcomes for children being connected to and supported by their family,” Miller contended.

She stressed it will be most important to guide reforms through the lived experiences of those kinship caregivers who have dealt with the child welfare system.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Corespondent Curtis Walsh)

Chippewa Township council discussed a proposed ordinance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia during their monthly meeting last night. The proposed Ordinance 261 would cause people caught in possession of smaller quantities of marijuana or paraphernalia to be fined rather than charged with a misdemeanor offense. Chippewa Township police chief, Eric Hermick, spoke about the ordinance stating that  the usual routine of marijuana possession cases result in misdemeanor charges, that are later dropped to summary offenses, such as disorderly conduct, and the department only receives about $25 after all is done. Police officers are often paid overtime for attending court hearings which are an unnecessary cost that could be eliminated by the ordinance. Hermick also commented on the effect minor marijuana charges can have on young adults, stating that 18 year olds are charged with a criminal misdemeanor, pleaded down to a summary offense, and have to go through a costly process to get the criminal charge expunged from their records. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier is also reportedly supportive of the ordinance. Ordinance 261 would make Chippewa Township the first second class township in the state to decriminalize marijuana. Audio of the discussion can be heard below.