Representative Eachus, Members of the House

Written Testimony of Alan M. Pugh, ENP - Luzerne County Chief of Public Safety

Representative Eachus, Members of the House. Thank you for the opportunity to address this board today...

I would like to provide an overview of Luzerne County Dept of Public Safety and our response to this major snowstorm. On Dec 21^st 2005 Luzerne County Commissioners created the Department of Public Safety in order to increase efficiency and productivity of three departments which include 9-1-1, Emergency Management and Security. In the past 14 months, the Department of Public Safety has assisted and responded to multiple emergencies including a nuclear power plant alert, June flooding, November flooding , the December tornado and the latest snowstorm. Throughout all of these emergencies, our goal has been to provide assistance to the residents and municipalities of Luzerne County. Some of the assets which have been acquired during the past 18 months include six Haz-Mat equipped response trailers which are strategically placed throughout our county, five hospital response trailers, 4 additional vehicles (2 four wheel drive) and a 10,000 square foot warehouse to stockpile supplies such as water, MRE’s, various tools and equipment. EMA distributed new pagers to every municipal designated local EMA coordinator to receive EOC message broadcasts. All of these resources are available for distribution upon request of the municipalities or their response agencies.

In the past year in addition to our own Counties emergencies, Luzerne County has been able to provide MRE’s and water to several other surrounding counties in conjunction with PEMA.

Luzerne County Road & Bridge, despite having 128 miles of road to maintain through the storm, provided a backhoe to EMA to load supplies from our warehouse. Road & Bridge also provided assistance to Wilkes-Barre city (who requested it) after the storm with local clean up efforts.

As I am sure you are aware, Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency operates under guidelines set forth by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Title 35: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code, which requires that each municipality appoint an EMA coordinator who is responsible for the direction of disaster emergency management services with in their municipality. If the local EMA Coordinator is unable to fulfill their unmet needs, it is the responsibility of the coordinator to request assistance from the County Emergency Management Agency. The County EMA will then allocate its resources and equipment to the local municipality. If the County EMA is unable to meet specific needs, the County will then request the services of PEMA. According to our EMA coordinator no unmet needs were reported that were not filled

At this time, I would like to provide a summary of events, requests and responses made by Luzerne Counties Department of Public Safety Department / EMA

Luzerne County Public Safety/Emergency Management

February 2007 Snow Event Timeline:

Wednesday, 2/14/07, 06:00 –Storm begins as heavy sleet and ice changing to heavy snow throughout the late morning and afternoon. Public Safety Personnel began to notify its staff, and prepare equipment and supplies.

2/14/07, 08:00 –EMA activates Emergency Operations Center. There is a heavy layer of sleet by now which is covered by snow. At this point it seems as if it is a normal winter storm for our area. The snow then changes to sleet during the morning hours.

2/14/07, 08:30 – Call Volume to the 911 Center has now increased by over 100%.

2/14/07, 09:00 – Hoyt Library roof collapses. Luzerne County Public Safety personnel respond to assist. PEIRS REPORT FILED

2/14/07, 09:30 – Luzerne County Public Safety Plow was dispatched to Laflin to assist EMS and Fire w/ plowing while they operated at a cardiac arrest. Public Safety Dept then plows a path to the hospital.

2/14/07, 11:00 – A conference call with PEMA takes place with basic storm updates.

2/14/07, 11:30 – Sleet changes over to snow which is heavy at times.

2/14/07, 12:30 – Luzerne County officials start preparing declaration of a state of emergency.

2/14/07, 14:00 – Luzerne County State of Emergency takes effect. Alert is put out to all municipalities. Public Information Officer phones media outlets with advisory.

2/14/07, 15:30 – Conference call with PEMA(no issues have been reported to Luzerne County EMA at this time), Lackawanna County reporting problems on I-81 near I-84 and I-380 with slow travel and stranded motorists.

2/14/07, 16:00 –Call Volume at 911 Center has increased by 400%.

2/14/07, 17:37 – Per Schuylkill County, I-81 North and South is closed in Schuylkill County. This information is broadcasted to all units on the Suburban frequency.

2/14/07, 18:00 – Public Safety is advised by Emergency Management personnel that a call was received from a mother of a 16 YOA female advising that her daughter was stranded on the highway and in danger of running out of fuel near WB/Scranton Airport. This is the first report that Luzerne County Public Safety personnel learn of traffic problems on I-81.
2/14/07, 18:15 –Additional call received about the back up on I-81.

2/14/07, 18:30 – Several calls took place between PSP and EMA/EOC attempting to discern the severity of weather related issues.

2/14/07, 18:33 – I-80 East at MM 277 is closed per PSP Fernridge due to multiple accidents. This information is broadcast to all units on the Suburban (Southern Luzerne County) frequency.

12/14/07, 18:45 –Luzerne County Public Safety workers take a plow truck and an SUV to the PennDOT shed in Pittston Twp on Rt. 315 and meet with the shift foreman. After conversation with PSP and Public Safety workers a plan of action is put into effect to get traffic flowing. Public Safety personnel meet with a PSP unit in the area of the airport exit on the northbound side and PennDOT begins plowing the exits.

2/14/07, 19:30 – The PennDOT plow begins work clearing a ramp and then becomes stuck in a large snowdrift. The Luzerne County Public Safety personal use Luzerne Counties plow and attempt to help dig him out but is unsuccessful due to the amount of snow that has piled up due to drifting. The PennDOT truck frees itself and resumes clearing the snow from the area. PSP has heavy-duty wreckers on scene and they start removing trucks from the highway. Progress is slow but being made.

2/14/07, 20:00 –Emergency Management reaches Gene Rafali of PennDOT to inquire about reports of problems in the Hazleton area. He indicates there are only minor delays and some stuck vehicles which have been cleared with no current problems. He did note that he himself was only notified of any problems on I-81 at 19:00hrs.

2/14/07, 21:30 – Luzerne County Public Safety requests the Red Cross to assist with food and water for stranded motorists in the county.

2/14/07, 21:45 – Luzerne County Public Safety personnel meet with local fire and EMS crews staging at the Sunoco on Rt. 315 in Pittston Twp. The local EMS had 2 quads and a military 6x6 vehicle and they begin patrolling the Highway. PSP Hazleton states that they have no unmet needs at this time.

2/14/07, 22:00 – A request for EMS assistance is placed to the 911 center for a resident with a diabetic problem. The quads with medical personnel are dispatched to find the resident. 2 or 3 additional medical calls came in during this time. All persons refused transport to the hospital. The quads and 6x6 continue to check on stranded motorists.

2/14/07, 22:06 – Valley Regional units are now doing welfare checks on the stranded motorists on I-81 and I-80 in southern Luzerne County

2/14/07, 23:00 – The Red Cross provides our Public Safety personnel with the ability to purchase a pallet of water from Wal-Mart on Oak St in Pittston Twp. With the assistance from Pittston City EMS the water was brought back to the staging area where it was then loaded into the 6x6 and the quads to be distributed to stranded persons.

Thursday, 2/15/07, 02:00 – A microwave failure from EMA to Mt. Top was detected. Luzerne Counties Public Safety’s personnel responded to this incident. WBPD 1 out of service. After identifying and correcting the problem with the microwave, it was approximately 04:30 on Thursday morning.

2/15/07, 05:00 –Luzerne County Public Safety called in additional personnel to assist in delivering food and more water to motorists stranded on the highway. EOC called PSP Hazleton about reports of a similar situation in the Hazleton area. PSP Hazleton stated that the situation (a series of stuck tractor-trailers) was under control and that they did not need food or water.

2/15/07, 05:30 – Public Safety placed a call to PSP Wyoming and they advised that the highway was clear and that all stranded motorists were removed from the highway.

2/15/07, 06:00 -10:00 - During this time the National Guard was activated, and the WB/Scranton Airport terminal was opened to stranded travelers. Dept of Public Safety Assisted in this effort. PSP Hazleton was contacted and stated they still did not need assistance at this time.

2/15/07, 10:00-15:00 – During this time the Public Safety/EMA received the normal calls for service, such as questions about road conditions, and began receiving increased call volume about a back-up on I-81 at Hazleton.

2/15/07, 15:25- EMA received call from PEMA to set up conference call at 16:15hrs concerning status of I-81 and I-80.

2/15/07, 16:15-17:40 – Joined conference call with other counties, PEMA and PennDOT which announced that I-81, I-80 and I-78 would be closed at 18:00hrs. Detour routes were outlined. All available personnel were summoned to the EMA/ EOC due to I81 and I80 was being shut down. A mass detour was going to take place.

2/15/07, 17:50 – Luzerne County Public Information issued media news release supplemental to PEMA/PennDOT releases regarding road closures and detours

2/15/07, 17:58- EOC issues broadcast to in ref to Interstate closures and detour routes over radio.

2/15/07, 20:00 – Emergency Management received a call from a Fire Chief concerned about detour ramifications on Route 309, and why local departments weren’t consulted. He was advised that the Commonwealth closed the interstates and the detour onto local roads was in effect.

2/15/07, 18:00-1900 – American Red Cross opens shelters at Rice Elementary School and at Hazleton Area.

2/15/07, 22:30 – Public Safety vehicles where loaded with food and water and are dispatched to Rice Elementary School to assist Red Cross set up a shelter. Cots were also delivered by Public Safety from the Red Cross.

2/15/07, 23:00 – Efforts completed to get a box truck and the County’s backhoe with forks for additional deliveries that were needed.

Friday, 2/16/07, 02:00 – First delivery is made to Rt. 309 & Airport Beltway in Hazle Twp. Public Safety personnel handed off supplies to DCNR resources for delivery to stranded motorists. Second truck from National Guard is due.

2/16/07, 08:00 – Luzerne County Public Safety personnel deliver food and water to stranded motorists on exit ramps and in parking lots along I81 and I80 in Luzerne County.

2/16/07, 17:00 – Telephone traffic from the EOC is then diverted to 911, Public Safety personnel continue to deliver food and water to stranded motorists.

2/16/07, 20:00 – Public Safety personnel deliver food and water to stranded motorists on exit ramps and in parking lots along I81 and I80 in Luzerne County.

2/17/06, 6:00 – Food delivery operation concludes.

Estimate of Supplies Used

2 pallets of water and 2 pallets of MRE’s to DCNR in Hazleton.

60 cases of bottled water and over 500 MRE’s distributed by Public Safety personnel.

Luzerne County personnel worked hard to provide assistance to all affected people and agencies and processed all requests brought forth by the local agencies and municipalities. With every major event our department reviews the events and responses in order to make updates and improvements where ever necessary. We are currently reviewing the snowstorm and will look at ways to enhance our capabilities and communications.

With the efforts of our County Commissioners, State, and Federal funding the Public Safety Department has 3 additional 4 wheel drive vehicles, 1 box truck with lift gate, 1 mobile command trailer, and a multipurpose Bobcat Toolcat utility vehicle. In addition we have requested 12 FEMA trailers through PEMA for the County.

Luzerne County would like to thank the State for the food and water supplies that have been so valuable during our numerous emergencies. We would ask for your continued support with stockpiling assets in Luzerne County to serve the northeast. I must say that the cooperation received by our dept from the State agencies (PEMA, PSP, and others) has been excellent over the past 14 months.

Luzerne County will continue to work with all agencies (Local, State, County, and Federal) to improve public safety for our citizens. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to address this panel and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you,