NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
RIVER FLOODING A DISTINCT POSSIBILITYHarrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today said that some minor flooding from the Susquehanna River is a distinct possibility by Sunday night or Monday morning, as the remnants of Hurricane Ivan combine with a stalled cold front that has moved into the area from the Great Lakes, with heavy rainfall the expected result. As the river level rises, it will slow drainage from creeks and streams and cause their levels to also rise and stay elevated. The city has already initiated emergency management steps. Crews are moving the small buildings at RiverSide Village Park and Harbourtown on City Island to higher ground. Parkers who leave their vehicles on the City Island surface parking lots are being told to move them either into the Island parking garage or, if access is needed to the vehicle on the weekend or early next week, to relocate off the Island. Reed said it is possible some of the lowest lying neighborhood areas of the city may experience basement water back-up such as in Shipoke and the 3200 block of Green Street. People with structures in these areas should remove perishable items from those basements now. The Mayor said the city is also keeping watch on the advance of Tropical Storm Jeanne, now churning in the Atlantic, which may bring further rainfall to the area by the end of next week when river and stream levels will still be high. This could produce a second scenario for some flooding. With minor river flooding, with the river staying below 20.5 feet, no evacuations would be necessary. “Presently, based on current projections of Friday morning, this looks to be more of an annoyance than nay major threat but we need to keep an eye on it, as things could change if greater than expected rainfall occurs in the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers’ basins over the next three days,” he said. If basements begin to fill with water, extinguishing the pilot light on basement gas appliances and turning off the electrical panel box should be done, if it is safe to do so. No one should enter a basement filled with water if the water level has reached the electric panel box. Motorists are strongly advised against driving into flooded street areas, as smaller cars can be flooded and swept away by less than one foot of flowing flood water. If minor river flooding occurs, homes in West Fairview, Dauphin and other riverside communities will also be affected. XXX |
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