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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Peter J. Daley |
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Daley calls for hearing on storm response
HARRISBURG, Feb. 12– Commerce Committee chairman, state Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-Washington/Fayette, is calling on emergency planning agencies, power and water companies and the government to examine their response to the recent snow storms that have blanketed the area.
"There are still thousands of people without power. They have been without power since the first storm last Friday," said Daley. "This is unacceptable that a week later my residents are still struggling. We want to investigate what delayed the response and search for ways to permanently fix the problem."
Daley will hold a House Majority Policy Committee hearing open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 3 at the Mon Valley Career Technology Center in Charleroi.
The hearing will feature four panel group discussions: first responders, secondary responders, constituent representatives and utility companies.
"We are not on a witch hunt, but emergency plans need to be investigated. The current response plan is unsatisfactory and disorganized," said Daley.
"We need answers to the important questions: Where are the National Guard and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)? Why is it taking so long to restore power?"
Daley also noted that another problem is how agencies were having trouble coordinating food and shelter for people placed in emergency housing and also caring for local senior citizens and those with special needs.
"We need to take into consideration what we have learned from this disaster and focus on how to better equip ourselves in the event that a storm of this magnitude should materialize in the future," said Daley.
More information is available by contacting Daley’s Donora office at 724-379-5540, or toll free 1-800-467-9486.
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