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HARRISBURG — In 2007, more than 1,000 people spent Valentine’s Day stuck in a frozen stream of traffic on Interstate 78.
Tractor-trailers repeatedly jackknifed in 6 inches of ice and snow along a 50-mile stretch through Lebanon, Berks and Lehigh counties.
Some were trapped for nearly 24 hours and slept in their vehicles. Others slept in an emergency shelter at the Hamburg Middle School. No one was injured but the event drew unwelcome national attention to the Keystone State, as National Guard troops had to deliver food, water and fuel to trapped drivers.
Nearly nine years later, state officials said they have made many changes to respond to emergencies. State officials say they are more prepared now than ever for the first major snowstorm of the season.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday declared a state of emergency for a storm predicted to begin late Friday and dump snow through Saturday.
Berks and surrounding counties could see 12 inches of snow, with higher amounts possible, according to forecasters.
Jeff Jumper, the state meteorologist, said the heaviest snowfall is projected Saturday morning, starting as a soft powdery snow and then turning into a heavy snow.
“The closer to Philadelphia you live, the stronger the winds will be,” Jumper said. “There will be downed trees and power outages.”
So far, forecasters are not predicting sleet and icy conditions, which were the primary causes of crashes on I-78 when then-Gov. Ed Rendell declared a state of emergency.
But by calling a state of emergency early, Wolf allows state and local authorities to respond to any unmet needs as quickly as possible.
“Declaring a state of emergency allows the commonwealth to deliver state resources wherever they’re needed,” Wolf said. “We have multiple state agencies working at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to monitor weather conditions across the state, and we will respond to help local governments and residents in need.”
Wolf urged Pennsylvanians to pay close attention to the weather reports on the news.
“We cannot control the weather, but we should be prepared to take what the weather brings us,” Wolf said. “Take time to look after your neighbors and the elderly.”
Lessons learned
PennDOT officials, meanwhile, said numerous protocols have been implemented since 2007 to improve safety measures on highways.
“The changes have worked really well,” noted Ronald J. Young Jr., a PennDOT spokesman. “There is much better dialogue between state agencies. We speak in the same terms and follow the same protocol.”
“Preparedness is key and that is what we have been doing.”
“The problem back in 2007 was that there was a lot of snow mixed with ice. There was a lot of traffic that could not get through. The worst part of that storm was in Berks County.”
In the last nine years, PennDOT implemented these safety precautions for storms:
—Installing metal guide rails that open in medians every few miles on I-78 and other state highways to allow motorists to turn around if there are accidents or closures.
—Closing highways for dangerous road conditions.
—Providing detours from all interstate highways.
—Updating 511pa.com, the state’s website that provides information on conditions on interstates and state roads, including weather reports and locations of snowplows.
—Placing more road signs on highways for restaurants and hotels.
Leslie Richards, PennDOT secretary, said there will be 4,800 snowplow operators on the road plowing 48,000 miles of roadway.
Richards urged motorists to be careful if they have to leave their homes.
“Preparation is key to winter driving,” Richards said. “While it’s snowing, roads will not be completely clear. Motorists may find more coverage on less traveled roads.”
‘Stay home’
State police will be stationed on highways throughout the state. Despite all of the safety procedures in place, Trooper David C. Beohm, spokesman for Reading-based Troop L, said the best advice is to not go out.
“If you don’t have to travel, just stay home,” Beohm said. “You have to let PennDOT clear off the roads.”
Beohm noted that interstates typically have a fair amount of traffic, regardless of the weather.
“After a big incident like the one in 2007, we always learn how to improve,” Beohm said, adding that troopers recently met with emergency officials to plan for the storm.
“If people are backed up in traffic, call the state police immediately,” he said.
Beohm said most of the motorists who are on the highways during storms are out-of-state travelers.
“The best advice is to make sure your car is fully stocked with cellphone chargers, food and water,” he said.
But if motorists do get stuck on the highways, the Tri-County chapter of the American Red Cross, based in Reading, is prepared to respond.
Adrian J. Grieve, executive director, said that he has three trailers in Berks with emergency supplies necessary to open shelters.
He is contacting local school districts to let them know that the agency may be looking at setting up shelters in the schools if necessary.
“Unlike some disasters, we have 36 hours to prepare until the snow arrives,” he said. “People need to use that time to prepare themselves. People need to prepare themselves to make sure they have enough food before the storm arrives.”
Grieve then recalled when the Red Cross set up an emergency shelter at the Hamburg Middle School in 2007.
“We provided meals and hot drinks at the shelter,” Grieve said. “We also went onto I-78 and provided food to people who were stranded.
“We haven’t seen anything of this magnitude since then.”
Grieve said the lesson learned is for motorists to stay off the roads.
“We encourage people to listen to what authorities are saying on the news,” he said. “People need to change their travel plans.”
Corey B. Coleman, executive director of the state Health Department, is also working to ensure that all hospitals have up-to-date information on the storm.
“It is critically important to prepare for the storm,” Coleman said. “If you use medical equipment in your home, please talk to health care providers about this storm.”
Coleman also warned people with high-blood pressure to be careful shoveling snow.
“Everyone should stay indoors as much as possible,” Coleman said.