Oct 29, 2012 5 min read

WAYNESBURG – The threat of potential power outages as a result of Superstorm Sandy battering the east coast has put federal, state and local government on alert. President Obama and Gov. Tom Corbett both signed disaster emergency declarations for the commonwealth as well as the Greene County commissioners ahead of what some are calling the storm of the century. American Red Cross disaster relief volunteers were alerted over the weekend they were to report to the Carmichaels Community Center, which acts as a shelter during emergencies, Monday to prepare for the possible need to open the shelter after the storm reaches the area. Ruth Enci, coordinator of the Carmichaels shelter, said the dry run would include preparing cots, blankets, registration tables and assigning what people will be doing today if the shelter must open. “This is a basic run-through of what we will be prepared to do in the case we are open. There are some people for which this is totally new, and hopefully we can recruit a few more people by doing this,” Enci said. “This is not a daily thing. You may get one call a year to do something.” Enci said volunteers do everything from serving coffee to playing cards with those displaced by an emergency, to taking information from them such as the medications they are on. All information is confidential and helps the shelter to direct those who enter to whatever help they may need. “There is a whole gamut of things you have to go through,” Enci said. “I have been in touch with the Red Cross since last week, talked to Greg Leathers at Greene County Emergency Management as early as this morning, the police, Craig Baily, Carmichaels School District superintendent and the township supervisors. They said anything you need, we are here for you.” In a release from the Greene County commissioners’ office Monday morning, the Greene County Emergency Management Agency advised residents of the serious potential to the area from damage from high winds and rain. The National Weather Service has predicted winds in the area will be between 25 to 40 mph with gusts of up to 60 mph. Because of the threat of these winds, PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel. Enci noted the added weight from trees that are still covered in leaves pulling on the power lines. Rainfall in Greene County is expected to be between two to four inches, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is likely to cause flooding in several areas around the county. FEMA has advised residents to move to higher ground if the potential for flash flooding exists where they are located. It further advised that outdoor furniture be brought indoors or secured and essential items moved to upper floors when possible. Residents are urged not to walk through moving water, drive in flooded areas or park vehicles along bodies of water. A number of Greene County school districts scheduled a two-hour delay for today. Administrators reached in West Greene, Central Greene and Carmichaels Area School districts each were making preparations for the storm. Matt Blair, technology coordinator for Central Greene, said the district maintenance staff has been actively addressing the situation by moving items like picnic tables, garbage cans and soccer goals inside. “We are doing a roof project at the elementary school, and we have secured it so nothing blows off. All of the schools in our district have generators and the diesel ones have been filled with fuel and all have been tested,” Blair said. “We feel pretty confident.” Blair said this has been an interesting situation to watch, and with the heavy reliance on technology, to contact people in the event of a closure a power outage could present a problem. Although the schools are powered by generators, Blair said they are for emergency purposes, not operational. In the event the power does go out, a decision will likely be made for the schools to close, according to Blair. West Greene School District Superintendent Thelma Szarrell said power outages are not as much a concern in her district as flooding. “We are playing it by ear. We are not going to jump the gun but are just waiting to see. We have backup generators that are brand new that are due to be hooked up tomorrow,” Szarrell said. She noted the bad timing of when they happened to be scheduled for installation. “It (the generator hookup) may be the answer to a lot of problems from the storm or not, depending on the timing. We are not canceling anything (yet). We keep monitoring everything and if something needs to be adjusted, we will be prepared to adjust it.” Baily said he has been in contact with PennDOT and continues to monitor the streams in his district. However, Baily said the main concern for the district is more the wind than the water. “Our plans are that we are going to operate as long as we have power.” Morgan Township Supervisor Dominick Barbetta, who called to reschedule trick-or-treat in the township from 6 to 8 p.m Oct. 31 to. Nov. 3 because of the storm, said the supervisors have been preparing all day. “Our trucks are full, the chainsaws are ready, the chipper is ready and fueled up,” Barbetta said. “We are on standby and will be out checking. The high-lift and backhoe are ready, whatever it takes.” “As always, county residents are encouraged to be prepared for loss of power and to have enough food and water to last for 72 hours. Having flashlights, batteries, blankets and a radio are strongly advised,” commissioners said. “Residents are reminded to only dial 911 in the event of an emergency. More information will be sent as the storm system progresses.”