Commonwealth Warns PA Motorists of Icy Conditions on Roadways State Emergency Operations Center at Enhanced Activation

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 15, 2007: A winter storm mixed with ice and snow has entered Pennsylvania and is making travel difficult for some motorists. The storm is expected to last until Monday morning in some areas of the state.

"We are currently monitoring the conditions associated with this winter storm and have been in contact with the National Weather Service and county emergency managers to determine its potential impact," said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Robert P. French. "Road conditions may deteriorate overnight as a mix of precipitation moves in."

According to the National Weather Service, conditions will range from snow to sleet to rain and freezing rain with some areas receiving between 4-12 inches of snow in higher elevations. Starting Sunday, high winds, with gusts of up to 30 miles per hour, are also predicted.

"PennDOT crews are working around the clock to help keep roads passable," said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. "I urge all motorists to drive sensibly and keep travel to a minimum. This will help our crews focus their full attention on plowing and treating roadways around the state."

"Since freezing rain is predicted for large portions of the commonwealth during this storm, conditions on the roadways could become treacherous," said State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller. "We urge you to avoid all unnecessary travel but if you must drive, slow down and use common sense when driving."

Icy precipitation could also lead to downed trees and power lines. Those experiencing a loss of power are encouraged to call their electric utility immediately and report the outage.

The state emergency operations center (EOC) and the joint information center (JIC) were activated at Level II at 8 p.m. tonight.

The EOC activation will support county emergency services and coordinate state resources in anticipation of the storm that is expected to affect most of the commonwealth. The JIC staff may be reached at 717-651-2731 for information on the commonwealth's response to the winter storm. PEMA is working with multiple state agencies, including PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Public Utility Commission, Civil Air Patrol as well as the National Weather Service.

State news releases and statements will be available at www.pema.state.pa.us. The JIC in Harrisburg will be the principal location for all state government media activity.

(717) 651-2731