Pocono News Section

Applying Lessons Learned from the Valentine's Day Storm

Applying Lessons Learned from the Valentine's Day Storm - Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 5:25PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 @ 05:25pm EST
You may remember three years ago this weekend - The ValentineÕs Day storm that paralyzed Pennsylvania. The 2007 snowstorm stranded thousands of people and shutdown several major interstates.

State officials say they learned a lot and we saw several decisions made during WednesdayÕs snowstorm that are a direct result of the lessons learned from mistakes in 2007.

These are images that won't soon be forgotten in Pennsylvania, especially by the thousands of people stranded for days on Interstate 81 and 78. The storm crippled much of the state.

Wednesday's closure of 81 north and south was meant to head-off problems. Dennis Giordano said, "It's partially a preemptive preventive process. ThereÕs a protocol in place if this happens. We need to pull the trigger in real time and have the right people in the right place to do what we do so as not to have the situation that occurred in 2007 once again."

PennDOT put some restrictions on the vehicles on this highway. The speed limit was reduced to 45. Big trucks, tandem trucks cannot use this highway. In 2007 they blocked off and on ramps.

PennDOT also opened a command center. They monitor 26 cameras in 2007. There were only 3 camera near the major interstates.

They also shifted manpower. "In a storm of this magnitude we use our paint crews who normally work up paint and drilling projects. That now gives us four more tandem trucks along I-81 corridor and we have more resources," said Giordano.

There was a lot of finger-pointing back in 2007. Hearings were held into the situation. It was determined there was a lack of communication between the various state agencies. More meetings are now being held throughout the year so everyone is on the same page.