BLOGSKI

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging encourages residents to check on older adults who live alone to ensure their well-being and safety during this severe winter weather. This includes verifying that their homes are well heated and that they have enough food, water and medication to last for several days.

The Area Agency on Aging has been taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of high-risk older adults who are registered for care management with the agency. This includes repeated phone calls to frail and homebound individuals, especially those who live alone. Additionally, many home-delivered meal participants who are considered the most vulnerable have received a box of shelf-stable foods and emergency supplies.

“Not all of the older adults in Allegheny County are registered with the Area Agency on Aging,” cautions AAA Administrator Mildred Morrison. “For that reason, we’re calling on the community to help to ensure that all seniors are kept safe during this particularly difficult weather. We are asking anyone who knows of an older person living alone, particularly someone who is frail, to please take the time to visit him or her.  “If the house feels cold, make sure the furnace is working. Be alert to dangerous methods of heating a room, such as open flames or ovens. Also, make sure there is food and water in the house. And please, make repeated visits to make sure everything is alright.”

Teenagers who are home from school on a snow day are encouraged to volunteer to shovel a driveway, walk a dog, or run an errand to help an older person during this severe weather event.  Information about programs and services for older adults is available by contacting SeniorLine by email, at
412-350-5460 (TDD/TTY 412-350-2727), or by visiting the SeniorLine website.

The 54C to Penn/Main is running, but isn’t doing the loop up into Polish Hill.   If you really need to catch the bus, be prepared for a very difficult walk down to Liberty.  Many sections of sidewalk have not been cleared.  Walking in the road is dangerous–there isn’t much space and cars are sliding.

Check here for bus service information.

Here is updated information on school closings.

The PHCA office will open on Tuesday as usual.  We welcome visitors!

Looking down from the top of Brereton Street.  Although the streets are plowed, few cars are out, and the bus still isn’t coming through.  The usual roar from Bigelow is gone, and the neighborhood is very quiet.   This snow has brought people out into the streets.  People are walking around with shovels, helping others dig out.

If you took any good photos during this snowed-in-Polish Hill weekend, please email them.   Unless they’re something your mom shouldn’t see, we’ll post them here!

City officials announced today that road conditions remain extremely dangerous. Many primary and secondary roads are still in bad condition and many tertiary roads haven’t been hit.

Residents should limit walking and especially driving on roads. There have been many instances where plows have had to swerve to avoid hitting residents and have found themselves stuck in a snow bank. Many vehicles have been abandoned, preventing snow plows from clearing streets. Police will only tow vehicles that are blocking roads.

“Public works has brought in additional assets to assist in snow removal and we are doing everything in our power to get to your street,” Ravenstahl said. “Outside contractors will be assisting crews with plowing in our most hard to hit City neighborhoods. In order for our crews to get this City up and running again, we need everyone to pitch in. Number one, we’re asking that citizens stay off of the streets and do not drive their cars unless absolutely necessary.”

The Governor has sent the Pennsylvania National Guard to assist us with emergency snow removal operations. HumVees and Guardsmen will be pairing up with City paramedics to ensure that ambulances can get to the most important medical calls along tertiary roads. Officials will also be pairing up HumVees and Guardsmen with firefighters and police officers to assist whenever necessary.

“Public safety continues to our number one priority,” Ravenstahl said. “I have asked all non-essential employees – employees who are not assisting in public works and public safety efforts – to stay home. It’s still not safe out there.”

The Mayor strongly encourages businesses and institutions to evaluate their own needs in deciding whether or not they will stay open tomorrow. Many parking lots and park n’ ride lots are still not plowed, and transportation for employees will remain treacherous.

CITY OPERATIONS SUSPENDED:

The City has suspended garbage and recycling pickup until further notice.

The following Citiparks facilities will be closed: Senior and Recreation Centers that are not serving as warming centers; Mellon Tennis Center; Schenley Ice Rink; and the Oliver Bath House.

POWER SITUATION:

Many residents are still without power. As of 6:30 p.m. today, 1250 City residents have been affected with the largest portion located in the Hilltop neighborhoods. Duquesne Light believes that most power will be restored by tomorrow evening.

311 AND WARMING CENTERS:

City 311 operators went into work this morning and will be working until 11 p.m. tonight to assist residents who are without power and in need of transport to a City warming center.

The Mayor reminded citizens of guidelines when calling 311: residents must call 911 for any emergency; and 311 will not be taking any calls regarding snow removal at this time.

“We’ve extended 311’s hours to help our residents with any unmet needs, in particular, in getting residents without power to warming centers” Ravenstahl said.

Currently, the City is operating six warming centers. They will remain open throughout the night as needed. A full list can be found at www.pittsburghpa.gov, or residents can call 311 to find out their closest location.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR RESIDENTS
* Stay off of the streets, this means driving, and walking when plowing is occurring;
* Unless you are a critical employee to life safety, you are advised to stay home;
* Check on the elderly, especially if they are without power.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER:

* Alternative heating sources such as generators MUST be outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Running generators inside the home is extremely dangerous and will cause death, as many have read in the papers this morning, there were two deaths which appear to have been caused by CO poisoning in McKeesport.
* Turn on highest faucet to a drip to prevent pipe freeze.
* Use extreme caution with kerosene heaters and other alternative heating sources: do not place near furniture, curtains and other combustible materials. Please, watch children around lighted candles.
* If residents need shelter or hospital transport, please call 911 if life-threatening only. EMS physicians will continue prioritizing calls.

On Brereton St, at the intersection with Dobson. Pretty amazing. Staffski is sure that the 54C isn’t running.

After the walk was shoveled, the snow really doesn’t have any place to go but up.

In front of the Polish Hill Civic Association office. This is the walkway between us and our neighbor.

In front of the PHCA. Yes, there is a car under that mountain of snow!

The most recent update from PAT –

Port Authority has shut down all T light rail service until conditions improve.

Extreme weather conditions have caused numerous issues on the T lines and bus routes. All but one bus route (EBA) remains shut down this morning.

One EBA – East Busway All Stops bus is providing limited service on the East Busway between Swissvale and Penn Station. The bus will not enter Downtown Pittsburgh due to the current road conditions.

Port Authority will continue to provide service updates through the morning at portauthority.org and at its Twitter site, twitter.com/pghtransit.

Read a good book or watch a movie at home. City crews and public transportation will need time to catch up after the storm. Still snowing and 2-4 more inches expected to fall. The PHCA office will not be operating today.

Port Authority is advising all riders to board buses on main roads tonight due to poor driving conditions. This means that stops on secondary roads will not be served until driving conditions improve.

Buses will travel on primary roads in neighborhoods and communities.

The T light rail system is operating on a normal schedule tonight.

Port Authority will keep you updated on its service through tonight and Saturday morning.

It’s here. The weather people have been talking about this monumental storm for the last two day. Staffski has been watching a steady snowfall since about 1PM over here in Pittsburgh’s most vertical neighborhood. It started sticking about 3PM, much to her chagrin.

If you haven’t seen your shovel in a bit, you might want to check under that oddly shaped snow drift. Salt isn’t any good until you get the layer of drifty, slushy white stuff up.

City ordinance says that snow must be removed within 24 hours after a snowfall. So, not only are you helping to keep Pittsburgh a pedestrian-friendly city when you shovel your walk, it’s the law!

Valentine’s Day event at Soldiers & Sailors will benefit American Red Cross efforts in Haiti
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced a Valentine’s Day concert featuring the Clarks, Bill Deasy, the Freedom Band and Good Brother Earl to benefit American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. The event will take place on Sun., Feb. 14, at Soldiers & Sailors Hall in Oakland. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for a silent auction that will include autographed sports memorabilia, gift certificates and other items. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at
the following locations:

Dave’s Music Mine, 1210 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh, 412-488-8800;

William Pitt Union Ticket Office, 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, 412-648-7814;

County Executive’s Office, 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh; and Online at www.clarkstickets.musictoday.com.

All proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction will benefit the American Red Cross Haiti Relief & Development Fund.

“It has been more than three weeks since Haiti was ravaged by a devastating earthquake, and the country continues to struggle,” said Onorato. “The people of Allegheny County and Southwestern Pennsylvania have provided a tremendous outpouring of compassion, time and donations to help Haiti. This special Valentine’s Day concert will provide another opportunity for residents to show the Haitian people how much they care by supporting the critical work being done by the American Red Cross in Haiti.”

The American Red Cross is providing the Haitian people with essential needs, such as food, clothing and water. In fact, the Red Cross and its partner organizations are currently distributing more than one million liters of water per day to the victims of the earthquake.

“One of the biggest reasons our City is so livable, is that our people are known for their kindness and generosity,” said Ravenstahl. “I encourage Pittsburghers to make this Valentine’s Day their most memorable yet, by attending this benefit concert that will give support to the men and women who are working so hard to help the people of Haiti recover. If you take a minute to think about how many loved ones have lost the chance to reunite, and how many loved-ones have reunited, but are amidst the long and sobering process of recovery, this is the least we all can do. The concert will be fun, it will be energetic, and it will help Haiti.”

“By setting up this concert, Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, Soldiers & Sailors and all of the performers involved are showing a remarkable dedication to helping the American Red Cross help the people of Haiti,” said local Red Cross CEO Patricia Waldinger. “This is an outstanding way that people throughout the region can help the earthquake victims and have a
great time.”

Due to logistics, the local Red Cross is unable to accept the donation of physical goods. Instead, it asks that financial donations be made in whatever amount is deemed appropriate. The following is a list of ways people can help with Haiti relief efforts:

Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Haiti Relief & Development Fund. The charge will appear on your next cell phone bill;

Call the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter at 412-263-3100;

Visit www.redcross.org and click on “Donate Now;”

Mail a check to the American Red Cross, 225 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The donation should be marked “Haiti” if the donor wishes the funds to be earmarked for this particular disaster;

Purchase a Haiti relief cutout at area SHOP ’n SAVE locations; or

Donate at any of the 76 Eat’n Park restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia