Harrisburg, PA – At the request of emergency management officials in Erie County, on Sunday, December 1, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) deployed an eight-member multi-agency Incident Management Team (PA-IMT) to support snowstorm operations at the Erie County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The PA-IMT began operations upon arrival and are expected to remain in place for one week, unless the county shortens or extends the request.
The Shapiro Administration has been providing support since the beginning of this high-impact winter event that has created challenges for so many individuals and travelers in Erie County and Northwestern Pennsylvania this holiday weekend,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “This specialized incident management team consisting of highly trained and experienced personnel has embedded with Erie County emergency management teams to assist with coordinating resources and ongoing response operations for this multiday event, ensuring a highly efficient and effective response for those most in need.
On Saturday, November 30, Governor Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency for Erie County, which will allow the Commonwealth to quickly draw down funding and provide state agencies with the resources needed to assist counties and municipalities as they continue with ongoing response efforts. In addition to deploying the PA-IMT, PEMA activated the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center on Thursday, November 28 at midnight to monitor impacts from the event, deployed liaisons to the Erie County Emergency Operations Center and has been coordinating with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Pennsylvania National Guard to assist Erie County with response to this snowstorm.
Earlier today, PennDOT lifted the temporary restrictions on certain vehicles from traveling on Interstates 79, 86, and 90 in Erie County. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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.
The PA-IMT is a Commonwealth asset with a cadre of specialists trained in disaster response and recovery operations. The eight-member team consists of personnel, along with specialized vehicles and equipment from PEMA, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. This is the third deployment of the PA-IMT this year, supporting Tropical Storm Debby disaster recovery operations in Tioga County and Hurricane Helene disaster response operations in Avery County, North Carolina.
You should call 9-1-1 only in the event of a life-threatening emergency. For other non-emergency assistance, contact PA 211 by dialing 2-1-1, or 1-855-567-5341