Dear Friends,

As Hurricane Sandy continues a path up the Eastern seaboard, Southwestern Pennsylvania is due to be hit with severe rains and winds, with damage and flooding likely to occur as well as power outages.

If the severe weather impacts your home and you lose power, report immediately to FirstEnergy/West Penn Power by calling toll-free 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) or click the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com via Smartphone. Duquesne Light customers should call (412) 393-7000 or (888) 393-7000. West Penn Power and Duquesne Light will also post updates on power outages in its service areas via Twitter.

Reporting that you have lost power is how the power companies can stay informed. As soon as calls come in, technicians plot each home on an electrical map to determine if the power lost stems from a single home, one transformer for a few homes, or an entire neighborhood.
Immediately report downed wires to your local police or fire department and don't forget, you should never go near a downed power line, even if you think it's no longer carrying electricity. It is also important to notify the power companies of a downed line so they can work appropriately with emergency responders. Downed power lines, especially large outages, are a top priority to ensure timely repairs and community safety.

Governor Corbett has issued a statewide proclamation of disaster emergency and on Sunday, the Governor sent a formal request to the President seeking an emergency declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania due to Hurricane Sandy beginning on October 26, 2012, and continuing through the remainder of the storm period.

The Governor is specifically requesting debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program for the entire Commonwealth. The Governor is further requesting snow assistance for the entire Commonwealth.

The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding. This assistance is for all counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Download the Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide here.

The National Hurricane Center will be posting regular storm updates here. For more safety tips, visit Ready PA’s official website or download the American Red Cross ‘Hurricane App’ here.

During this time, I encourage you to prepare a home emergency kit, stay indoors and avoid driving unless necessary, keep informed, and remain in close contact with any elderly family members, friends, or neighbors.

For local safety issues pertaining to the storm, Washington County residents can reach the Washington County Department of Public Safety by calling (724) 228-6911.To contact the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, call (724) 600-7300. You can reach the Allegheny County Emergency Management Department by calling either their emergency (412) 473-2550 or non-emergency telephone line (412) 473-3000.

Sincerely,
Congressman Tim Murphy