NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
CITIZENS CAN WATCH FLOOD FROM RIVERFRONT BUT NOT IN EVACUATION ZONESHarrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed this morning said that citizens curious about the current Susquehanna River flooding can watch events unfold from the riverfront in Harrisburg but are not permitted into any evacuation zone where neighborhood residents or businesses have been evacuated. Police are stationed around the evacuation zones, so they are easily identified as restricted areas. Otherwise, the riverfront area, including in most of the downtown, is completely open to visitation. Due to flooding at its West Shore entrance, the Market Street Bridge is closed, as is the Walnut Street Bridge—a pedestrian bridge. City Island is already flooded so it, too, is fully closed. Evacuations have occurred in Shipoke and other locations. The Mayor this morning ordered that no evacuation occur in any other area unless it is clear that back-up or flowing water was going to threaten an area. “We want to minimize disruption in people’s lives as much as possible, while also assuring full public safety.” Current forecasts have the river reaching its highest point around 3:00 p.m. today and then beginning a slow descent, but not dropping below flood level until Tuesday morning, so much of the clean-up and recovery effort will be focused on a Tuesday start-up. People will be allowed back into their homes and businesses as soon as it is safe. Re-entry teams of city codes officers and utility company representatives will physically check every structure to verify it can be safely re-occupied and used. The Mayor said that a curfew exists under the Declaration of Disaster Emergency that prohibits anyone from being in an evacuation zone who does not live there and police have been advised to arrest violators on the spot. The curfew is intended to prevent mischief and to assure security while residents and businesses are absent. XXX |
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