Tredyffrin Twp: "We're as Ready as We Can Be"

Tredyffrin Township officials spent the early part of Saturday morning going over final plans for coping with what is expected to be a long night of heavy rain and flooding in parts of the township.

Leaders from every department that could be affected by the storm, the chiefs and other officials from the Berwn and Paoli Fire Companies, and some members of the township Board of Supervisors convened at 7:30 Saturday morning for a two hour meeting in the Tredyffrin Municipal Building. On the agenda, making sure the lines of communication among departments are open and coordinated in the run up, during the storm and in the aftermath of the expected storm.

Township is Ready

The general consensus from all involved: "we are as ready as we can be for Hurricane Irene."  That means that radio communications have been checked, both fire departments that cover the township have been briefed and maps of areas with the greatest potential for flooding have been carefully reviewed for potential problems and alternate routes if needed to reach anyone in need.

The township will have a command center up and running at the municipal building to coordinate responses to problems as they arise.

What you should know

Tredyffrin Township Manager Mimi Gleason says preparations for handling the storm have been going on for several days and Saturday's meeting was a final chance to check that everything is ready to go. "We're as ready as we can be," Gleason said. For the public the most important thing you can do to help "is stay home, stay off the roads and let the first responders do their job," Gleason emphasized.  

She added that in case of an emergency the best number to call is 9-1-1. The Chester County 9-1-1 operations center will also have extra people on duty and that is the fastest way to connect with the right kind of help, whether it's a medical or fire emergency or a downed tree or power lines. To hear the town manager discuss what the township is doing and what you should know about the storm, click on the video clips.