HURRICANE UPDATE Posted 10/31/2012

From Paxtang

SUPERSTORM SANDY UPDATE 2:30 P.M., Tuesday October 3oth

Although the worst of Cyclone Sandy seems to be behind us, borough residents are urged to remain vigilant. The possibility and potential for weather related emergencies still is very real. Keep those emergency items such as flashlights, candles, and non-perishable foodstuffs on hand and ready. Make sure that electronic devices, such as radios and cellular telephones remain charged.

Trash Collection

At this time Waste Management's Customer Service line has advised us that they fully expect to conduct regularly scheduled pickup on Wednesday (tomorrow). If they are unable to do that, trash will not be picked up until the following Wednesday. Particularly with recent winds, residents are cautioned to be careful that items placed at the curb not blow or fall into the street.

Leaf Collection

The Borough Staff has been hard at work removing large branches from the roadway and keeping streets passable. As they can, the process of leaf collection will then commence. Because the leaves are now in the gutters, because, they are water logged, and because there are now small branches mixed in, you can expect the process to be significantly slow and tedious. Residents can help by raking leaves into the yard adjacent to, but not in the roadway, and separating small branches and twigs from the leaves and piling them next to any leaf piles. It would also be helpful if homeowners living near to storm drains rake or sweep leaves to keep these open. Any leaves that can be kept out of the storm sewer is a good thing.

Damages

Paxtang has been very fortunate to this point that although numerous branches fell during the storm there has only been one report of property damage: A fence was damaged when a Borough shade tree fell on top of it. Damages to utilities or to property caused by a borough shade tree should be reported promptly to the Borough Office.

Power Outages

Several homes in the Borough along 29th Street were without power for the best part of 24 hours due to a power line down on 29th Street. Although power interruptions remain a VERY real possibility as PPL tries to repair lines, transformers, and grids, it appears that most of us have dodged a big bullet. At this time power has been restored to the 29th Street area and the entire Borough is 'powered up'.

Fire Company

Not many are aware of it, but the Paxtang Fire Company is a contributor to the South Central TaasForce, a conglomerate of emergency services that can be mobilized in the event of an emergency. Now that the situation in the Borough is stabilized, the Fire Company is now available to be called to some of those areas that have been harder hit than we were. In the event of a deployment we wish them well and Godspeed. In the meantime, they remain ready to assist residents in any way that they can.