Sandy: Live Updates
Check here for emergency announcements and the latest information released regarding Sandy.
A warming station has been set up at the Dalton Fire Department. Residents can go there to get food, water and recharge electronics. Warming station is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Call the Dalton Fire Dept. at 563-1313.
WAYNE COUNTY:
Shelter set up at Greene-Dreher Fire Company in Newfoundland. People can get water, ice, and meals. This is an overnight shelter. Call (570) 676-4207 for more information.
WYOMING COUNTY:
The Lackawanna Trail High School in Factoryville has been designated as a Shelter-In-Place by the Red Cross utilizing the high school gymnasium. For anyone who would like a warm place to stay, shower, or eat, you are welcome to take advantage of the Shelter-in-Place which will be set up later this evening.
MONROE COUNTY:
Church of Saint John in East Stroudsburg will open a soup kitchen tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., to community members without electricity. The soup kitchen will include soup, sandwiches, a place for people to warm up, and plugins for electronic devices.
PennDOT has announced it will extend expiration dates for driver licenses, ID cards, and vehicle inspections/registrations.
Vehicle registrations and inspections scheduled to expire October 31 have been extended until November 15.
Driver licenses and ID cards scheduled to expire between October 26 and November 15 will now be expire November 15.
There is no Red Cross warming station at the East Stroudsburg North High School today. The roads in that area are still hard to navigate due to tree limbs and debris, according to school officials.
PPL says they have restored service to about half of the customers whose power was knocked out by Hurricane Sandy. Thousands are still without power, including over 40,000 in Monroe County.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Bill Medley has postponed his performance at the Wiltsie Center in Hazleton that was supposed to be this Sunday, until February or March because of Sandy.
WAYNE COUNTY:
Wayne Memorial hospital has initiated its telephone emergency preparedness plan due to difficulties with incoming and outbound phone calls in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Under this plan, phone calls to and from the hospital by anyone, including patients and staff, must be limited to emergency, hi-priority and essential phone calls.
MONROE COUNTY:
Pocono Township officials have postponed trick-or-treating until Saturday, Nov. 3. It will be from 5 to 8 p.m.
MONROE COUNTY:
Chestnuthill Township officials have postponed trick or treating until Saturday, November 3.
Trick or Treating for Chestnuthill Township is rescheduled as follows:
• Trick or Treating in the Park – Chestnuthill Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday
• Trick or Treating Township-Wide – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday
Due to the affects of Hurricane Sandy, Bishop John Barres with the Diocese of Allentown has lifted the obligation for Catholics to attend mass tonight and tomorrow for All Saints Day.
MONROE COUNTY:
Trick-or-treating in Mount Pocono borough, Coolbaugh Township, Tobyhanna Township and Tunkhannock Township has been postponed to Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.
For an updated list of road closures follow this link.
For safety tips on generator use click HERE.
For an updated list of shelters open click here.
LYCOMING COUNTY:
Trick-or-Treating in Clinton Township has been changed to Saturday, November 3 from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
All Solomon Creek flood gates have been taken down. Normal traffic patterns are open.
The Pike County Courthouse is closed Wednesday.
Pennsylvanians who may be displaced from their homes due to damage from Hurricane Sandy are reminded that an online housing locator is available to help them quickly find affordable rental housing. Click here
, there is no cost for using this service. People without Internet access can call this number (877) 428-8844.
AAA Offers Tips for Storm Damaged Homes and Vehicles. Click here to check them out.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
The state of emergency in Pottsville has been lifted.
MONROE COUNTY:
The Monroe County Office of Emergency Management is urging all residents to stay off the roadways, unless it is an emergency. This is to allow emergency responders and road crews time to clear the roadways due to heavy tree and power line damages from Hurricane Sandy.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
The Rush Township municipal building is set up as a warming center for Rush Township residents without power. Residents planning to go to the warming center are asked to call the Hometown Fire Company at (570) 668-0274 prior to going to the municipal building.
WAYNE COUNTY:
All Wayne Memorial outpatient satellite facilities (X-ray, blood draws, EKG) will re-open Wednesday in Honesdale, Waymart, Hamlin, Lords Valley, Forest City and Milford.
WAYNE COUNTY:
Wayne Memorial Hospital says elective surgeries that were cancelled today, will resume Wednesday.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY:
There are several trees down along the walking path at Lake Scranton. Pennsylvania American Water is closing the parking lot and walking path until Thursday to give crews time to clear the debris. People are asked to avoid the area until Thursday due to safety concerns.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Frackville is rescheduling the Halloween Safe Trick or Treat Night to Saturday November 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The following interstate rest stops are closed due to power outages:
I-80 East, White Haven, Luzerne County
I-81 North, Dorrance, Luzerne County
I-81 South, Nuangola, Luzerne County
I-81 South, Lenox, Susquehanna County
I-84 East, Promised Land, Pike County
I-84 West, Promised Land, Pike County
I-84 West, Matamoras, Pike County
All PA Wine & Spirits Stores will be closed Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The stores are set to reopen Wednesday, October 31.
If you have any storm photos you would like to share. Upload them to our Sandy Slideshow.
The speed limit has been restored to normal by PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission. Speeds on highways in eastern and south central PA were lowered to 45 MPH yesterday because of hazardous conditions.
LYCOMING COUNTY:
Trick-or-treating in Montgomery borough is postponed until November 3.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY:
There will be no Meals on Wheels delivery today.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
The Red Cross also has a shelter open in the gymnasium area of the Hazleton Area high school.
LYCOMING COUNTY:
The state Department of Environmental Protection north central regional office in Williamsport will be closed today. District offices in Sunbury and Mansfield will also be closed.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
Schuylkill Mall near Frackville will open at noon today. Hours for anchor stores will vary, please call before visiting.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
The Senior Community Centers in Schuylkill County will remain closed Tuesday.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
Hexcel in Pottsville is closed for dayshift. The business will reopen at 2 p.m. for second shift.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
The Schuylkill County courthouse is closed Tuesday.
WYOMING COUNTY
The travel ban in Wyoming County is lifted as of 7 a.m. Tuesday.
LYCOMING COUNTY
Williamsport YMCA is closed Tuesday, including all child care sites.
PPL, Penelec, UGI, and MET ED report over 176,000 homes and businesses in our area are currently without power. Click HERE for a list of emergency shelters.
Close to 150,000 homes and businesses in our area are without power according to Penelec and PPL. Strong winds are expected to continue.
The National Weather Service has extended the small stream flood advisory for Snyder, Union, and Northumberland County until Tuesday at 4:30 a.m.
WYOMING COUNTY
The Wyoming County Commissioners have declared travel restrictions within the County. Only essential personnel with proper identification can travel. National Guard presence will be seen within the county.
MONROE COUNTY
The American Red Cross will open a shelter at East Stroudsburg South High School on Tuesday, October 30, at 7 a.m.
More than 80,000 homes and businesses are without power in our viewing area, a third of them in the Poconos. That number continues to grow as strong winds continue.
All Pennsylvania Labor & Industry Unemployment Compensation Call Centers Closed on Tuesday, Oct. 30, due to Hurricane Sandy
PIKE COUNTY
The Pike County Courthouse and Administrative Buildings will be closed on Tuesday October 30. All county offices are closed Tuesday as well.
WAYNE COUNTY
The Wayne County Courthouse and Administrative Buildings will be closed on Tuesday October 30, 2012.
DIRECTV SUBSCRIBERS — High Definition local stations are off the air on the DirecTV system. This is due to an uplink problem in the New York City area.
The following is a list of Pennsylvania electric company, toll-free numbers:
Citizens Electric of Lewisburg – (570) 524-2231
Duquesne Light – (888) 393-7000
FirstEnergy Companies – (888) 544-4877. This includes: Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power), Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), First Energy Company Pennsylvania Electric (Penelec), and West Penn Power (formerly Allegheny Power)
PPL – (800) 342-5775)
PECO Energy Company – (800) 841-4141
Pike County Light & Power Company – (877) 434-4100
UGI Utilities Inc – (800) 276-2722
Wellsboro Electric Company – (570) 724-3516
With tropical-force winds creating dangerous traveling conditions in the Philadelphia area, Governor Tom Corbett is closing the full length of Interstates 95 and 676; I-476 (non-toll portion); I-76 from the PA Turnpike to Passyunk Avenue and the U.S. Route 1 Extension in Philadelphia to all traffic except emergency vehicles from 7 p.m. through 2 a.m.
The Office of Administration announced that state office buildings in the Capitol Complex, Harrisburg Area, Pittsburgh, Reading, Scranton and Philadelphia State Office Buildings will be closed to non-essential employees on Tuesday.
Due to the severity of the storm and its potential impact on customers, Wells Fargo has decided to waive or credit certain fees beginning today and going through Thursday. Call (800) 869-3557 for more information.
MONROE COUNTY:
Stroud Mall closed at 6pm today. Mall is scheduled to re-open Tuesday at 10 a.m.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY:
Pennsylvania American Water is closing the Lake Scranton Walking Trail and parking lot on Tuesday. They are asking walkers to please avoid the lake path until Wednesday to ensure time to clear the path if necessary.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY:
Red Cross Shelter open at the Susquehanna Community School in Susquehanna.
LUZERNE COUNTY: All Hazleton busses and public transit are cancelled for Tuesday. They shall resume Wednesday unless cancelled at a later date.
Roads are beginning to close. Click here for the list.
More emergency shelter locations:
Lackawanna County: Lakeland High School, North Pocono High School, & Scranton High School. The Jefferson Township site is now the Fire Hall.
White Eagle Hose Company in Old Forge and the Thornhurst Volunteer Fire Company in Thornhurst are non Red Cross Shelters.
PIKE COUNTY:
Shelter at Promised Land Firehouse on Rt. 390 in Promised Land. Open until 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
CARBON COUNTY:
The Carbon County Courthouse will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday October 30, 2012 due to inclement weather.
COLUMBIA COUNTY:
The Columbia County courthouse will be closed Tuesday. The absentee ballot period has been extended in the county until Friday, November 2.
An emergency shelter is open at the Columbia Montour Vo-tech school.
LYCOMING AND CLINTON COUNTY:
Meals on Wheels Cancelled for Lycoming and Clinton County on Tuesday.
LYCOMING COUNTY:
Lincoln Senior Center closed Tuesday.
Wal-Mart representatives report stores in our area are scheduled to close Monday at 6:00 p.m.
Rabbittransit will suspend all transportation services starting at 6 p.m. today. This includes fixed route Freedom Transit, and paratransit in Adams, Northumberland, and York Counties.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
There is no garbage pick up Tuesday for the city of Nanticoke.
WAYNE COUNTY:
Wayne County Courthouse and Administrative Buildings will be closed on Tuesday.
WAYNE COUNTY:
The Wayne County Commissioners executed a Declaration of Disaster Emergency at 2 p.m. today to allow Wayne County Emergency Management Coordinator to coordinate the activities of the emergency response, and to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the affects of this disaster.
MONTOUR COUNTY:
Montour County government offices will be closed Tuesday due to Hurricane Sandy. However, the elections office in the Courthouse will remain open for members of the public who wish to apply for an absentee ballot or drop off a voted absentee ballot.
The Courthouse will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. to accept applications. No other courthouse offices will be open.
MONROE COUNTY:
The Monroe County Courthouse is closed tomorrow due to weather conditions.
Emergency Shelters opened as of 3 p.m.10/29:
Bradford County: Wysox Fire Hall, Ridgebury Fire Hall Non-Red Cross
Sullivan County: Eagles Mere Community Hall (partially red cross supported)
Susquehanna County: Susquehanna Community School District-Susquehanna
Wyoming County: Tunkhannock High School
Lackawanna County: Lakeland High School, North Pocono High School, Scranton High School, Jefferson Municipal Building
WAYNE COUNTY:
Wayne Memorial Hospital said if anyone has a surgery scheduled and has not been contacted by his or her surgeon’s staff, please visit the hospital’s website for updated information. .
If you are a patient of Wayne Memorial Hospital’s outpatient centers or Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, either their family health centers or behavioral, dental or women’s health services, please call ahead before coming in to make sure they are open.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
The Wyoming Valley Mall is closing today at 4 PM.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
The City of Wilkes-Barre has closed the Regent Street gate near Solomon Creek in South Wilkes-Barre. Barney Street will remain open unless the creek rises to an emergency level during the storm. With three of the four gates closed, the city will be able to quickly respond to a rising creek in that area.
The Mayors of the Boroughs of Exeter, Wyoming, and West Pittston have issued a 10 p.m. curfew.
CARBON COUNTY:
Packer Township has declared a State of Emergency. The Township Municipal Building will be available to residents in the event that the power is out for an extended period of time.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board authorized the early closure of all PA Wine & Spirits Stores at 3 p.m.
The closure will affect approximately 435 stores throughout the state.
LYCOMING COUNTY:
Lycoming County courthouse and other Lycoming County Government Offices will be closed on Tuesday.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton as issued a mandatory curfew of 9 p.m. Click here for more information.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
From the Dallas Area Municipal Authority.
Due to the impending storm, there will be no trash collection for DAMA customers on Tuesday, Oct. 30th. Collection will resume on Wednesday and be one day behind your normal collection day.
CARBON COUNTY:
Weatherly is in a State of Emergency.
LUZERNE AND WYOMING COUNTIES:
Local Geisinger community practices are also closing early at 4 p.m. today, including those in Tunkhannock, Kingston, Wyoming, South Wilkes-Barre, Lake Scranton, Mt. Pocono, Mountainhome, Dallas, Kistler Clinic (Wilkes-Barre), Moosic, Hazleton, Mountain Top, Pittston and Pittston-North Main.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, Pediatric Urgent Care will close today at 4 p.m. and Adult Urgent Care at 5 p.m. Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center after hours urgent care will maintain normal operating hours, 6 to 11 p.m.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
Pottsville has declared a State of Emergency.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Sugar Notch Borough announces that due to the storm, garbage will not be picked up until Wednesday. Residents are asked to wait until Tuesday evening to place garbage outside.
HAZLE TOWNSHIP:
Garbage Collection has been suspended until Wednesday Oct 31.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY:
Red Cross shelter open at the Shamokin Area High School. Anyone needing transportation from the Borough please call (570) 339-4486.
Allied Services Integrated Health System announced that all 14 outpatient clinic locations will be closed Tuesday due to inclement weather. All patient appointments at the Allied Rehab outpatient clinics in the Scranton Luger Center, Scotrun, Moscow, MidValley, Carbondale, and Taylor are cancelled. Heinz Rehab outpatient clinics in Wilkes Barre, Tunkhannock, Pittston, Nanticoke, Mountaintop, Forty Fort, Drums, and Dallas will also be closed.
WYOMING COUNTY:
Wyoming County Commissioners declared a state of emergency. Shelter opening at 3 p.m. at Tunkhannock Area High School.
Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) can coordinate shelter or find services for older Pennsylvanians during Hurricane Sandy. Residents are encouraged to visit <a href="www.aging.state.pa.us" their website or call (800) 490-8505 to be connected with an AAA in their local area.
In counties affected by power outages or flooding from the storm, the agencies are prepared to handle the immediate and long-term needs of older adults and their families.
The Lycoming Mall is closing today at 4:00 PM
LUZERNE COUNTY:
There will be no garbage pickup in Hazelton on Tuesday due to weather conditions.
The Monroe County Transit Authority is suspending service effective 5:30 p.m. today. Click here for more information.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
Garbage will not be collected in Tamaqua on Tuesday morning due to weather conditions. Tuesday’s garbage collection has been moved to Wednesday, and recyclable collection has been moved to Saturday.
YMCA in Williamsport is cancelling all programs and activities tonight.
Several trees down in Sweet Valley. Ross Twp. EMA: We’re staffed and ready to respond.
The Viewmont Mall will be closing today at 4:00 PM, but Sears will remain open.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY:
The Lackawanna County Courthouse is closed tomorrow.
State Police are asking people not to call the local police stations for weather and/or road conditions on the emergency numbers.
Here is a list of numbers and websites to obtain this information:
Interstates and Public Information – (800) 932-4600
Pennsylvania Interstate – (888) 783-6783
People out of state to call to PA road and weather conditions – (717) 783-5186
Pennsylvania Turnpike – (800) 331-3414
Pennsylvania Website for Department of Transportation – 511PA.com
LUZERNE COUNTY:
The PA CareerLink at Wilkes-Barre and Hazelton will be closing today at 1:00 PM and will be closed tomorrow.
CARBON COUNTY:
The borough of Lansford is in a state of emergency until further notice.
The Lackawanna County Commissioners have closed the Coal Mine and four parks: McDade, Merli-Sarnoski, Aylesworth and Covington, as of 11 a.m. today through Wednesday as a safety precaution due to Hurricane Sandy.
Please check the County’s website http://www.lackawannacounty.org for further updates.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY:
Furmano Foods in Northumberland borough: second and third shift employees do not report to work.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Luzerne County court and court-related offices will close today at 2 p.m. and will remain closed until 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. All hearings and trials scheduled for Tuesday will be rescheduled.
Travel discouraged until conditions improve. Read the full statement from PennDOT officials HERE
Susquehanna Community Health and Dental Center in Williamsport is notifying all patients scheduled for appointments Tuesday that they need to reschedule.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Location change for the Red Cross shelter in Dallas. The shelter is open at Dallas Middle School, not the high school
The Mall at Steamtown will be closing today at 2 PM.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Freeland borough will have garbage pick up on Wednesday and Thursday. Recycling will be also be picked up Thursday.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Tech Packaging reports cancellation for second shift production tonight.
MONROE COUNTY:
Jenco Tobyhanna Distribution Center reports no second shift today.
The Zoning Hearing Board for Kidder Township in Lake Harmony meeting scheduled for tonight at 7:00 PM is cancelled.
A new date has not been established as of Noon today.
WVIA has cancelled the 10th congressional district debate scheduled for Tuesday night. WVIA plans to reschedule the debate for a later date.
LUZERNE COUNTY
The mayors of Wyoming, West Wyoming, Exeter, and West Pittston have declared a state of emergency in the boroughs until 7 a.m. Wednesday.
MONROE COUNTY
Residential garbage collection in East Stroudsburg has been postponed until Wednesday, October 31.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
The Marian Sutherland Kirby Library in Mountaintop will close at 1 p.m. today and reopen at Noon Tuesday, weather permitting.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Luzerne County council meeting tonight has been cancelled. A budget meeting scheduled for Tuesday night has also been cancelled. For more information, call 825-1634.
In Lackawanna County, COLTS bus service will shut down at 4 p.m. Monday. Please check the COLTS website which is currently being updated for specific route information and times.
There will be no service Tuesday, Oct. 30.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
The Pottsville Lions Club Halloween parade has been cancelled.
The Pottsville merchants trick or treat has been rescheduled to Thursday, November 1 from 4-6 p.m. City-wide trick or treating will be Thursday, November 1 from 6-8 p.m.
WYOMING COUNTY
The Halloween parade scheduled for Wednesday in Tunkhannock has been postponed to Saturday.
Due to the approaching storm, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania offices will be closing at noon today. Employees are encouraged to call the toll-free internal information line before coming in Tuesday for any additional changes to operations.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY:
The City of Sunbury is asking residents to help keep the catch basins in their neighborhood clear of any debris and leaves. If you have raked any leaves into the street, please remove them from the street so they do not clog the catch basin. The Public Works Department will resume brush pick up after the storm and its clean up.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
From the Schuylkill County Solid Waste Recycling – Recycling pick ups have been suspended for Monday and Tuesday and will resume on Wednesday October 31. Municipalities with sites are asked to please restrict access to the sites so that individuals do not leave materials outside of the bins that will be blown by the strong winds that are expected over the next 48 hours.
J.P. Mascaro & Sons will be suspending service to all of their customers Tuesday due to the storm. All collections will run one day behind for the rest of the week.
COLUMBIA/MONTOUR COUNTIES:
Senior centers in Columbia and Montour Counties will also be closed tomorrow and there will be no Meals on Wheels.
Due to the dangerous wind speeds associated with Hurricane Sandy, beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) will temporarily reduce the speed limit to 45 mph and restrict certain types of vehicles on some southeast Pa.roadways. Read more HERE
LUZERNE COUNTY: The American Red Cross is opening evacuation shelters at noon today at the following locations: Dallas High School, GAR High School in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke.
If for any reason you need to leave your home you are welcome at one of these shelters.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Quad Graphics in the Humbolt Industrial Park in Hazle Township will close at 3 p.m. today and will reopen at 7 a.m. Wednesday.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
Precision Home Health Care in Pottsville is closing at noon today and will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the following statement:
“The President today declared an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and ordered federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Sandy beginning on October 26, 2012, and continuing. Read more HERE
LUZERNE COUNTY:
Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA: all classes are cancelled and daycare closed for today and tomorrow.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY:
No Meals on Wheels delivery today. Senior centers are open.
COLUMBIA/MONTOUR COUNTIES:
Senior centers in Columbia and Montour Counties are closed today. There are no Meals on Wheels.
Non-essential employees under the governor’s jurisdiction are authorized for a full-day closing statewide, according to the governor’s press office.
CARBON COUNTY:
Effective at midnight Sunday into Monday, the Mayor of Lehighton is declaring a state of emergency in the borough. Residents are urged to report storm damage and keep storm drains in their residential area clear of leaves and debris. Any questions, call the borough police department at (610) 377-4003.
LUZERNE COUNTY:
The city of Wilkes-Barre has cancelled recycling collection for Monday due to Hurricane Sandy.
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PIKE COUNTY:
The Hemlock Grove United Methodist Church in Greentown will not be having worship or church school on Sunday due to the continuing power outage.