BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley is no stranger to Mother Nature’s unpredictable and sometimes brutal wrath.
From tropical storms and tornadoes to record-setting snowstorms and flooding, the region has been hit hard year after year.
In June, the area saw significant damage from straight line winds that ripped down trees, utility poles and power lines.
The aftermath saw PPL Electric respond to more than 1,000 individual damage locations, with some customers without power for more than 72 hours.
In August, the Lehigh Valley avoided the worst of the damage as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby raced north, though many areas across the state were impacted by catastrophic flooding and are now in recovery and rebuilding mode.
It’s why officials from Lehigh and Northampton counties are reminding residents that September is National Preparedness Month.
It's an annual campaign by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to raise awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness for homes, businesses and neighborhoods.
‘An easy yet daunting task’
Northampton County Emergency Management Services used social media this month to highlight 2024’s theme: “Start a Conversation.”
“Talking about bad things that could happen, like a disaster or emergency, isn’t always easy,” a Facebook post said.
“We may think we’re protecting the people we love by avoiding these conversations, but they are important to start taking steps to be ready and stay safe.”
County officials encouraged residents to start with one of “the easiest yet most daunting tasks to many" — creating preparedness kits that have non-perishable food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days.
Emergency supply checklists include things such as a can opener, paper plates and plastic cups and utensils, hygiene supplies, masks, flashlights, batteries and more.
More information and printable checklists can be found on the line at Northampton County Emergency Management Services website.
NCEM Emergency Supply Lists by LehighValley Newsdotcom on Scribd
Get involved
Every year, Lehigh County is at risk from the damaging effects of flooding, extreme weather, utility interruption and industrial or transportation accidents that can release chemicals and other materials that are hazardous to humans and the environment, according to Tanya Hook, director of the Lehigh County Emergency Management Agency.
Throughout September, Lehigh County EMA will highlight steps to help the community prepare for disasters, including ways for people to get involved.
That includes joining the Lehigh County Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, designed to enhance local emergency preparedness and empower community members with education and hands-on training.
CERT is about neighbors helping neighbors during an emergency, training community members to become citizen responders when professional first responders are overwhelmed or not immediately available.
The next CERT class will be 16 hours of training held over seven weeks (two-hour classes), with a medical training class combined to make one four-hour session, according to Kevin McGowan, outreach manager for Lehigh County EMA.
The class will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday starting Sept. 25 at Cetronia Ambulance Corps.
Interested participants can register online.
Questions can be directed to KevinMcGowan@lehighcounty.org or by calling 610-782-4600.
Stay informed
County officials urge residents to remain updated on incidents and warnings affecting the community by registering for Code Red for reverse emergency notifications.
You can do so by:
- Downloading the CodeRED Mobile App
- Joining Lehigh County CodeRED – Complete enrollment HERE
- Joining the City of Allentown CodeRED - Register HERE
- Joining Northampton County CodeRED — Text “NCEM” to 99411, download the CodeRED app or register at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BFEB4153F45C#.
