Overview of Operations
Once an emergency has been declared in the Township or a situation warrants certain emergency assets be activated, this section of the site will act as a way to stay informed of the latest information related to the emergency.
Latest Updates
Sept. 1, 2011
PEMA Urges Residents to Report Irene-Related Damages to Local Officials
Harrisburg - Pennsylvania residents who sustained damages to their homes or businesses as a result of Hurricane Irene should report those damages to local municipal officials as soon as possible.
"It's very important for residents to quickly file damage reports with their local governments," said PEMA Director Glenn Cannon. "Teams of local, county, state and federal staffers are busy doing preliminary damage assessments, but it's not possible for them to inspect every damaged property so we need the public's help."
Each municipality is responsible for collecting damage reports from residents and reporting them to counties for submission to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. PEMA compiles the totals and forwards them to federal officials to be considered as part of the state's request for a federal disaster declaration.
To find contact information for your township, borough or city, look in the government section (Blue Pages) of your local telephone directory or search online.
In Upper Darby Township please submit you information to William Gaul Emergency Management Director at 610.734.7778.
It's important to note that at this point in the recovery process, reporting damages to local officials is only for recording and filing purposes. It is not a means of registering for services or funding.
"Even if you have insurance and don't anticipate asking for federal assistance, we are all part of the same team in working to give the federal government an accurate picture of the damages we sustained in this storm,"
Cannon said. "Should we get a disaster declaration that includes financial aid for homeowners and renters, we'll then issue instructions on how people can sign up for assistance."
Governor Tom Corbett has proclaimed September as "National Preparedness Month" in Pennsylvania - a time for families to take steps to prepare for all types of emergencies.
Residents are encouraged to visit www.ReadyPA.org -- a state resource that encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an emergency or natural disaster:
- Be Informed: know what threats Pennsylvania and your community face.
- Be Prepared: have an emergency kit with at least three days' worth of essentials at your home, including food, one gallon of water per person per day, medications and specialized items such as baby or pet supplies.
- Create an emergency plan so family members know where to meet if everyone is separated when an incident occurs.
- Be Involved: Pennsylvanians have a long history of helping one another in times of need. Specialized training and volunteer opportunities are available so citizens can help others in their community in a disaster.
Information such as checklists for emergency kits and templates for emergency plans, as well as other information and volunteer opportunities, is available at www.ReadyPA.org or by calling 1-888-9-READYPA (1-888-973-2397)
August 28, 2011 Noon
Mayor Thomas N. Micozzie is lifting the State of Emergency put into effect to address the critical situation associated with the Hurricane Irene, effective at noon today, Sunday August 28, 2011.
The Comfort Station at the Upper Darby High school has been closed.
Mayor Micozzie and key staff members manned the operation command center in the Municipal Building throughout the storm. The emergency operation command structure focused on deploying three response locations in the Township served the community properly. This structure supported the concept of Township staff located at three fire stations, Primos Secane (west), Garrettford (central) and Cardington Stonehurst (east). Each location was staffed with a Fire commander, Police commander, Public Works supervisor, and representative from the Electrical department. Each location was assigned a geographic section of our township and was responsible for all life safety matter in the designated area. This included response to fire calls and keeping the streets and highways clear of debris.
As the day progresses, we do anticipate rain and high winds through early evening. Township crews will continue to work at the process of clearing highways and other associated municipal damage. All residents are asked to be careful and use common sense as they move into the community later today.
It is acknowledge that a number of Township residents are still without power, be assured that we will continue to monitor these situations and will work with Township public safety staff, the county’s emergency staff, and PECO to prioritize these outages.
As most of the storm event is moving away from this region and as we are experiencing limited activity on the township’s emergency hot line at 610.734.7700, this operation center will close at 6:00 PM this tonight Sunday August 28, 2011
At this time it is anticipated the Township will have normal trash and recycling collection on Monday August 29, 2011.
Emergency situations should be reported to the police and fire by calling 911.
In addition, residents may e-mail concerns to Request@upperdarby.org
Please check The Upper Darby Township web site for updates or additional notices related to the storm. Website: http://storm.upperdarby.org or www.upperdarby.org
Thank you.
Thomas N. Micozzie, Mayor
August 27, 2011 3:00 PM
To: Residents of specific locations in Upper Darby Township prone to flooding.
Mayor Thomas N. Micozzie continues to meet with members from key organizations and Township staff to discuss plans for the Hurricane Irene. As stated earlier, Mayor Micozzie has declared a State of Emergency in Upper Darby Township to take effect Saturday August 27, 2011 at 6:00 PM
The Red Cross and Delaware County Emergency Management Team have opened a shelter at the Darby Borough Recreation Center 1020 Ridge Ave, Darby PA. Directions – go south on Lansdowne Ave (street name changes to Main Street) to MacDade Blvd (Route 13), turn left on MacDade Blvd, Take the first right on to Ridge Ave.
Upper Darby Township Emergency Management Team will open a Comfort Station at the Upper Darby High School 601 Lansdowne Ave, Upper Darby, Pa 19082 at 7:00 PM this evening Saturday August 27, 2011.
Please be advised the comfort station is not currently equipped to take animals at the Upper Darby High School location.
If your property has a history of flooding and you feel threatened by the rain or potential flooding please consider moving to the Red Cross shelter in Darby Borough for permanent shelter or the Upper Darby High School Station for temporary overnight shelter (not equipped with sleeping material).
Please make sure you have a contact plan with family members should you be separated during the storm.
The township’s emergency hot line at 610.734.7700 will be put into effect at 6:00 P.M. Saturday, August 27, 2011 and remain open at least through 9:00 A.M. Monday, August 29, 2011
Emergency situations should be reported to the police and fire by calling 911.
In addition, residents may e-mail concerns to Request@upperdarby.org
Please check The Upper Darby Township web site for updates or additional notices related to the storm. Website: http://storm.upperdarby.org or www.upperdarby.org
Thank you.
Upper Darby Township
Emergency Management Team
August 27, 2011
August 26th, 2011 1:00 PM
Mayor Thomas N. Micozzie met with members from key organizations and Township staff this morning to discuss plans for the pending storm. Based on the most recent weather reports, Mayor Micozzie has declared a State of Emergency in Upper Darby Township to take effect Saturday August 27, 2011 at 6:00 PM
The weather forecast for this weekend August 27 & 28 continues to pose a threat to our community. All major tracking systems suggest that Hurricane Irene will have a major impact on this region. While the weather reports are not, at this time, sure the level of the hurricane, it is clear the weather will be such that all residents in our community need to take precautionary steps. Over the last several days, Township crews have been taking steps to address this pending weather event. Crews have been cleaning drain outlets and creek trash racks, making sure all equipment that may be necessary for an emergency response is in sound working condition. Please, if you see a stormwater inlet that gets clogged with trash or debris between now and the weather event help us and yourself by removing the trash and putting it in a secure trash container. While with a certain level of rain street flooding will not be avoidable, making sure storm water drainage outlets are clear of material will help the street drain quicker.
Please take some common sense measures in preparation of the storm. Secure your outside trash containers and patio equipment. If possible, please move this type of equipment indoors. If that is not a possibility try and secure the equipment to a stationery structure.
The Emergency Management staff is working on locations for potential shelters should that need develop. If shelters are necessary, we will post the openings on the township's web page (www.upperdarby.org) and use public safety equipment with public address equipment to navigate the Township in announcing the shelter locations.
All residents should consider having in their home medicine (if required), non perishable foods and water equal to what they may need for a 72 hour period. For more specific information in developing a emergency preparedness kit please visit www.readypa.org. Please make sure you have a contact plan with family members should you be separated during the storm.
It is anticipated that the township's emergency hot line at 610.734.7700 will be put into effect at 6:00 P.M. Saturday, August 27, 2011 and remain open at least through 9:00 A.M. Monday, August 29, 2011.
Emergency situations should be reported to the police and fire by calling 911.
In addition, residents may e-mail concerns to Request@upperdarby.org
Please check The Upper Darby Township web site for updates or additional notices related to the storm. Website: http://storm.upperdarby.org or www.upperdarby.org
Thank you.
Thomas N. Micozzie, Mayor
August 25th, 2011 4:00 PM
The weather forecast for this weekend August 27 & 28 continues to pose a threat to our community. All major tracking systems suggest that Hurricane Irene will have a major impact on this region. While the weather reports are not, at this time, sure if the hurricane will be a category 2 or 3 storm, it is clear the weather will be such that all residents in our community need to take precautionary steps. Since yesterday, August 24, 2011, Township crews have been taking steps to address the pending weather event. Crews have been cleaning drain outlets and creek trash racks, making sure all equipment that may be necessary for an emergency response is in sound working condition. Please, if you see a stormwater inlet that gets clogged with trash or debris between now and the weather event help us and yourself by removing the trash and putting it in a secure trash container. While with a certain level of rain, street flooding will not be avoidable, making sure storm water drainage outlets are clear of material will help the street drain quicker.
Please take some common sense measures in preparation of the storm. Secure your outside trash containers and patio equipment. If possible, please move this type of equipment indoors. If that is not a possibility try and secure the equipment to a stationery structure.
The Emergency Management staff is working on locations for potential shelters should that need develop. If shelters are necessary, we will post the openings on the township's web page (www.upperdarby.org) and use public safety equipment with public address equipment to navigate the Township in announcing the shelter locations.
All residents should consider having in their home medicine (if required), non perishable foods and water equal to what they may need for a 72 hour period. For more specific information in developing a emergency preparedness kit please visit www.readypa.org. Please make sure you have a contact plan with family members should you be separated during the storm.
It is anticipated that the township's emergency hot line at 610.734.7700 will be put into effect at 6:00 A.M. Sunday, August 28, 2011 and remain open at until at least 9:00 A.M. Monday, August 29, 2011.
Emergency situations should be reported to the police and fire by calling 911.
In addition, residents may e-mail concerns to Request@upperdarby.org
Please check The Upper Darby Township web site for updates or additional notices related to the storm. Website: http://storm.upperdarby.org or www.upperdarby.org
Thank you.
Thomas N. Micozzie, Mayor
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For previous Announcements please see the Archives