The Red Cross, Allegheny County Emergency Services, and various agencies around the region have opened warming shelters for individuals whose power was knocked out due to the weekend snow storm.
Allegheny County Emergency Services announced the county has opened the following emergency warming shelters:
Baldwin Borough
Fire Station 105
3049 Churchview
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
Elizabeth Township
Fire Station 147
425 Scenery Drive
Elizabeth, PA 15037
South Park Township
Fire Station 270
1030 Cochrans Mill Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Fire Station 271
6581 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15129
White Oak
Fire Station 300
2916 Jacks Run Road
White Oak, PA 15131
Verona
Fire Station 285
465 Parker Street
Verona, PA 15147
Millvale
Fire Station 191
501 Lincoln Ave.
Millvale, PA 15209
Penn Hills
Fire Station 222
5806 Verona, Road
Verona, PA 15147
Fire Station 223
1731 Leechburg Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Fire Station 227
125 Universal Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Senior Center -- Opens at 8:00 a.m.
147 Jefferson Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Region, along with several of its partnering Community Evacuation Teams, are operating 12 shelters. The Red Cross is also providing food at the shelters, which are also for those stranded because of the storm.
The Red Cross shelter locations:
Allegheny County
Shaler - Shaler Middle School
White Oak - Rainbow Fire Department
Aspinwall - Aspinwall Presbyterian Church
North Versailles - North Versailles Senior Citizens Center
Bethel Park - Hamilton Presbyterian Church Turle Creek - Turtle Creek Municipal Bldg.
Oakmont - Tenth St. Elementary School
Greene County
Carmichaels Senior Center
Beaver County
Midland - St. Blaise Parish
Hopewell - Hopewell Volunteer Fire Department
Fayette County
Ohio Pyle - Ohio Pyle Community Center
Port Marion - Port Marion American Legion
Also, Pittsburgh officials have opened eight warming centers for residents who can get to them safely.
Citizens with Internet capability may log onto www.pittsburghpa.gov for updated safety information and listings of warming shelters. Officials are encouraging family and friends of residents without power to check the site and inform them of their closest warming center.
"We will be updating this site continuously as important safety information on warming centers, road conditions, and electricity restoration becomes available," said Joanna Doven, the city's spokeswoman.
Pittsburgh warming centers are at the following locations:
WEST END SENIOR CENTER, 80 Wabash St., West End
WARRINGTON RECREATION CENTER, 329 Warrington Ave., Beltzhoover
ORMSBY RECREATION CENTER, 79 S. 22nd St., South Side
BEECHVIEW SENIOR CENTER, 1555 Broadway Ave., Beechview
NORTHSIDE SENIOR CENTER, Allegheny Square, North Side
BROOKLINE REC. CENTER, 1400 Oakridge St., Brookline'
MAGEE COMMUNITY CENTER, Greenfield Avenue, Greenfield, 412-422-6551
MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4300 Main St., Munhall
Other warming shelter locations:
Bethel Park
Bethel Park Community Center on Park Avenue
Hamilton Presbyterian Church at Baptist and Hamilton roads.
Collier Township:
Municipal building on Hilltop Road
Mt. Lebanon
Mt. Lebanon Emergency Management Agency has opened a warming center at the Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road
Duquesne Light is working around-the-clock to restore power, however, they have not yet set a system restoration time due to the road conditions.
Vulnerable residents with emergency medical conditions who cannot be without electricity should call 911. Pittsburgh EMS physicians are at the Emergency Operations Center and are prioritizing emergency calls for the medics to respond.
"First and foremost, we strongly encourage residents to evaluate their safest option," Ms. Doven, the city spokeswoman, said. "This means that if temperatures become unbearable they should get to the warmest place that is the shortest distance, like a neighbor's house. If you must use a medical device that relies on electricity, call 911."
While primary roads are getting better, secondary and tertiary roads and sidewalks are still full of snow, making them hazardous, said Pittsburgh Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski. He said crews are still working to clear primary roads. Tractors have started to hit secondary roads.
"With the amount of snow we've received, we will be playing catch-up throughout the day and night," Mr. Kaczorowski said. "It is still absolutely unsafe to drive.
"If residents need to go to the warming centers, I encourage them to carpool with neighbors who have the safest vehicle. We must all look out for one another."
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