PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Hurricane season is here and in the Delaware Valley, FEMA is urging neighbors to prepare. This week region prepares for two storms which can bring heavy rainfall, including remnants of Tropical Storm Debbylater this week.
“You don’t have to live in a coastal city to be susceptible to the effects of a hurricane,” said MaryAnn Tierney, regional administrator for FEMA Region 3.
The Regional Response Coordination Center at FEMA Region 3 headquarters in Philadelphia was quiet Monday, but that could change within hours.
“We always worry about every hurricane season because it doesn’t matter if the National Hurricane Center or the University of Colorado predicts 20 or 10 storms. All it takes is one storm,” Tierney said.
Mike Bilder, the hurricane program manager for FEMA Region 3, added: “What we do in this space is coordinate everything: not just what FEMA has to offer, but what the other partner agencies have to offer.”
As for what’s coming this week, the agency is keeping a close eye on not only Tropical Storm Debby’s path, but also another system that will bring heavy rains to the Philadelphia area days earlier. A flash flood warning is in effect Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“If you have two storms and a lot of rainfall in quick succession, it can make the situation worse,” Bilder said.
While Philadelphia may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of hurricane season – previous storms, including Hurricane Irene in 2011, Sand in 2012 And Ida in 2021 – left significant damage.
At this time, the federal agency is urging neighbors to prepare, which includes signing up for alerts, monitoring neighbors and putting together an emergency kit.
