October 29, 2012 — (6 p.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett held briefing to update the status of Hurricane Sandy and its impact on Pennsylvania.  The governor said that the storm had 90 mile per hour winds and was making landfall in New Jersey and expected to move west.  The storm was moving at 28 miles per hour but would slow down over land.

The eye of the storm is expected to pass south of Harrisburg by 2 a.m turn north and pass State College by 2 p.m. tomorrow.  It is expected to take a path over Philadelphia and will hug the southern border of Pennsylvania.  The outer winds of the storm will reach Johnstown.  The governor expected flooding to be significant in some portions of the state.

There are 58 evacuation centers that are able to handle 31,000 people.  As of 6 p.m., 100,000 Pennsylvanians were without power.  The governor said he was going to close the interstates near Philadelphia beginning at 7 p.m. until 2 a.m.  There are currently 308 Pennsylvania residents in shelters as a result of the storm.

In response to a question from the media, the governor indicated that there would be an extension for submitting absentee ballot applications in those counties where the courthouses have been closed as a result of the storm.  The extent of the extension would depend on the number of days that the courthouse was closed.

Resources:

An excellent list of telephone numbers for utilities and other contact information was released today and posted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Find out up-to-date information about Hurricane Sandy from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency on its website www.readypa.org or by calling 1-888-9-READYPA

Information about major state road closures is available by calling 511 or by www.511pa.com

Find the nearest Red Cross shelter

Important information about Hurricane Sandy – Additional Information will be posted as it is made available:

  • President Obama has signed a disaster declaration for Pennsylvania.
  • Most state offices affected by the storm will be closed for 48 hours.
  • The speed limit on all highways has been lowered