Harrisburg – October 30, 2012 – (4:30 p.m.) In an afternoon conference call briefing, Robert Powelson, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and Glenn M. Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, outlined new developments relating to Hurricane Sandy and the impact that the storm has had on Pennsylvania.
According to information conveyed during the briefing, there were 903 Pennsylvanians in shelters and there have been three fatalities as a result of the hurricane striking Pennsylvania. As of mid-afternoon, 41 counties have issued disaster declarations and 1.2 million citizens were without power – 570,000 in PECO’s service area in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. There is the potential that power may not be restored for seven to 10 days.
Although the storm was making its way out of the state, Pennsylvania may still feel the impact of the storm. Two large shelters were being opened at West Chester University and East Stroudsburg University.
Also it was noted that hospitals, nursing homes and counties needed generators and that some schools may remain closed due to energy and flood issues. There has been no interruption of welfare benefits.
In regards the election, an extension has been granted to apply for an absentee ballot if county courthouses – and the elections offices – were closed due to the storm. The length of the extension is dependent upon the number of days the elections board was idled. The original application deadline was today.
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Absentee ballot deadline extended in Pennsylvania as state recovers from this massive storm.
Harrisburg — October 30, 2012 – (9:20 a.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett provided additional details on how Pennsylvania is dealing with Hurricane Sandy earlier today at a briefing held at Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) headquarters.
Later today, the governor said he will be speaking with President Barack Obama and will be in contact with Govs. Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie of New York and New Jersey respectively, to determine if resources are able to be shared.
The center of former Hurricane Sandy is now over Chambersburg and the strength of the storm has diminished. There has been local flooding and reports of wind damage. Two deaths have been reported.
The governor said that 1.3 million Pennsylvanians are without power this morning. There are 603 people in shelters and that 48 shelters are operational. Thirty-eight counties have issued disaster declarations. PEMA is on level one status and 1,700 National Guard troops have been deployed.
SEPTA and Amtrak remain closed although speed restrictions on interstates have been lifted, except for I-90 and I-79 in northwestern Pennsylvania.
The storm dumped between 6-9 inches of snow in the Laurel Highlands and that western Pennsylvania will see additional impacts in Pennsylvania as the storm moves west then north.
Last night, 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. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the deadline for voters to request absentee ballots – originally 5 p.m. Tuesday – has been extended by up to two days, depending on how many days county offices were forced to close because of the storm.
Resources:
An excellent list of telephone numbers for utilities and other contact information was released yesterday 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
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.
HARRISBURG – October 16, 2012 – Calling the arts “an essential part of the fabric of Pennsylvania,” state Sen. Jay Costa said today that investing in arts is prudent because there is a discernible job creation and economic return.
“The arts represent a significant economic boost and a job creation tool,” Costa said at a news conference held in the state Capitol by Citizens for the Arts. “I have supported the arts for many years as a member of the Council on the Arts and on the boards of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Civic Light Orchestra so I know how important the arts are to the quality of life and marketability of a region.”
The media event was called to detail the economic impact of the arts. The Arts and Economic Prosperity study by the Americans for the Arts drew a direct correlation between investment in the arts and job creation and economic growth.
According to the study, the arts generate $2.55 billion in total economic activity and $1.8 billion in household income to local residents and support more than 81,000 full-time equivalent jobs. The arts deliver $360 million in local and state government revenue.
The Democratic leader also announced that he is going to form a bipartisan, bicameral arts and culture caucus in the General Assembly that will support the arts through the budget process among other things.
“The arts community is an essential part of the fabric of Pennsylvania – both economically and culturally – and we will continue to find ways to support it in the General Assembly,” Costa said.
The Forest Hills lawmaker also said that involvement in the arts also has a measurable education component.
Costa cited statistics indicating that students who take four years of music and art score 102 points better on their college entrance exams. Students with four years of art and music averaged 40 points higher on the written portion of their SATs than students with half a year or less.
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Harrisburg – October 14, 2012 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) the state Senate’s Democratic Leader, issued the following statement on the death of Sen. Arlen Specter:
“Whether it was on the local, state or national political scene, Senator Specter helped shape history. His work and his accomplishments throughout his many years in public life have left a lasting footprint. He led a purposeful and meaningful life and contributed so much to making the lives of the citizens of Pennsylvania better.
“Senator Specter was involved in many significant moments in our history and his reassuring voice was often heard during our most difficult times. Senator Specter led a full life of good works, including his efforts as a part of the commission that investigated the assassination of President Kennedy through many legislative battles while a member of the Senate.
“From his early years as district attorney in Philadelphia through five terms in the United States Senate, Senator Specter was a problem solver who used his years of service to generate benefits for the state. With Senator Specter’s death, Pennsylvania lost a political giant and a friend.
“On behalf of the state Senate Democratic caucus, I want to express our condolences to Senator Specter’s wife, Joan, his sons and all his family and loved ones. He was a friend who stood tall and he will be fondly remembered for his work.”
Contact:
Hugh Baird
717-787-5166
HARRISBURG, October 2, 2012 – – Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement in reaction to today’s decision by Commonwealth Court on the controversial voter ID law:
“In my view, the court’s decision is the correct one in blocking the voter ID law from taking effect this November. The court is trying to deal with an ill-conceived and short-sighted law.
“There has been so much controversy about this law, I still believe that some voters will not come out to vote fearing that they do not have the proper ID and therefore be disenfranchised.
“At the very least, the ruling means that voters will not be prevented from casting their votes and having them counted.
“Eligible voters should go and exercise their right to vote on Election Day and not worry about whether they have a photo ID. The whole controversy is a product of a short-sighted partisan political calculation. By not voting, partisanship wins so voters should not let that happen.”
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