PREPARATION

PFMA Emergency Planning Guide 

PA State Emergency Planning Guide 

Ready.Gov for Business

FEMA - Protect Your Business - "How-To" resources on how to prepare for natural disasters

FEMA Emergency Management Guide For Business & Industry
Step-by-step approach to planning, response & recovery

National Incident Management (NIMS) Overview

Sign up at 511 PA for updates on state road and weather conditions


GENERAL

Request for Emergency Assistance Form


WEATHER

Sign up at Alert PA for weather watches, flash flood warnings, and assorted emergency bulletins for your area

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

Local National Weather Service (NWS) Sites:

NWS State College (Central PA)

NWS Pittsburgh (West/Southwest PA)

NWS Binghamton (NE PA)

NWS Mt. Holly (SE PA)

NWS Cleveland (far NW PA)



PHILADELPHIA

Sign up for Philadelphia-specific alerts

 

FOOD PROTECTION

FDA Food Guidance Documents 

Guidance for Retail Food Stores – Food Security Preventive Measures

FSIS/FDA Guidelines for Retail and Foodservice Establishments Affected by Natural or Other Disasters

 

TRANSPORTATION

Road Closures & Restrictions Information - PA 511 Mobile Application

PA Turnpike Conditions - Check them at www.paturnpike.com and look at the "Current Alerts" ticker at the top of the page for restrictions. While traveling, motorists can use the Turnpike's smartphone app, TRIP Talk, available for Android and iPhone users. The app senses your direction of travel and location and plays audio advisories to alert you of stoppages or delays ahead. Travelers can also call the toll-free TRIP line at 866-976-TRIP (8747) for the latest travel and toll information.

Can food delivery trucks travel on Pennsylvania roads in an emergency?

Emergency Travel Directive - Movement of Authorized Personnel on Commonwealth Highways During a Disaster

Travel Badge Credentials - Reminder: Please Keep on Hand for Travel Emergencies

Hours of Service Waiver Request Form

Hours of Service Waiver FAQ

Will your request be approved? - Insight on PennDot's Considerations during Bad Weather 

Typical PennDOT Transportation Phases During an Emergency Situation
 


GENERATORS

USCPSC Asks Retailers for Help With Generator Safety Signage

 

RESPONSE

PEMA Daily Incident Reports

Disaster SNAP Guidance

 

ACTIVE SHOOTER PREPAREDNESS

• Area Coordinator Action Checklist
• Facility Lockdown Readiness Checklist
• Human Resources Action Checklist
• Employee Termination Checklist
• General Employees Action Checklist

CONTACTS

PFMA

Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security

50 State Retail Trade Association Contacts

PEMA Area Offices

PA County Emergency Management Agency & 911 Coordinators

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission listing of electric providers and outage contact information

For natural gas outages or gas leaks please refer to the numbers below:

• Allegheny Power: 1-800-255-3443
• Columbia Gas of PA: 1-888-460-4332
• Duquesne Light Company: 1-412-393-7100
• MetEd: 1-800-545-7741
• Penelec: 1-800-545-7741
• Penn Power: 1-800-720-3600
• Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL): 1-800-342-5775
• Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO): 1-800-494-4000
• UGI: 1-800-276-2722
• West Penn Power – First Energy  - Jeff Downes - 1-800-686-0021

EMERGENCY PROCLAMATIONS & PRICING LAWS

PA Governor’s List of Disaster Emergency Proclamations

Pennsylvania Price Gouging Act

 

RECOVERY

Standard Checklist Criteria for Business Recovery

PEMA – Disaster Assistance & Recovering from Damages

PDA Retail Food Facility Food Safety Concerns for Flood Emergencies

What To Do If Your Business Was Damaged

 

LOANS

Following a disaster declared by the president, FEMA partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help disaster survivors.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.

Physical Disaster Loan Eligibility

Any business or private, nonprofit organization that is located in a declared disaster area and has incurred damage during the disaster may apply for a loan to help replace damaged property or restore it to the condition it was in before the disaster. If your business or private, nonprofit organization - large or small - has suffered physical damage as a result of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA makes physical disaster loans of up to $2 million to qualified businesses or private, nonprofit organizations.

IRS –- Tax deductions for “casualty loss”

Topic 515 - Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Losses (Including Federally Declared Disaster Areas)

Generally you may deduct casualty and theft losses relating to your home, household items and vehicles on your Federal income tax return. You may not deduct casualty and theft losses covered by insurance unless you file a timely claim for reimbursement, and you must reduce the loss by the amount of any reimbursement.

A casualty loss can result from the damage, destruction or loss of your property from any sudden, unexpected, or unusual event such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, earthquake or even volcanic eruption. A casualty does not include normal wear and tear or progressive deterioration.


NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

For more information about emergency preparedness in the United States, visit the following web sites:

Federal Emergency Management Agency - The primary mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - The NOAAWatch is a web portal offering information about ongoing environmental events, and explains the role of NOAA in prediction, monitoring, and recovery from environmental hazards. It provides public access to current information on a number of environmental threats ranging from oil spills, to hurricanes and tsunamis, to space weather.

American Red Cross - Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

U.S. Fire Administration - As an entity of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the USFA is to foster a solid foundation in prevention, preparedness, and response by providing national leadership to local fire and emergency services.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control - CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and the world to monitor health, detect and investigate health problems, conduct research to enhance prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, implement prevention strategies, promote healthy behaviors, foster safe and healthful environments, and provide leadership and training.

U.S. Geological Survey - The U.S. Geological Survey's mission is to serve the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974 to enable the nation to safely use radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while ensuring that people and the environment are protected.