Pocono News Section

Digging Out of a Disaster Emergency

Digging Out of a Disaster Emergency - Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:27PM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Friday, Feb 12, 2010 @ 12:27pm EST
POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY - Friday marked day three of snow removal in hard-hit Schuylkill County.

Places like Pottsville began the day still under a disaster emergency.
From one end of the city to the other, snow removal was in full force Friday.
Whether it was Pottsville Municipal Water Authority workers or DPW crews, they were plowing, scooping and shoveling.
The massive dig-out in a city crippled by Wednesday's storm required some outside help.
"We went out and hired private contractors to help with some snow removal," said Pottsville Mayor John Reiley.

Friday morning traffic was flowing on Center Street and throughout downtown Pottsville.
That's thanks to crews working round-the-clock.
"They've been going 24-7 just about in different shifts," said Jim Muldowney, the director of Pottsville Department of Streets. "Now the problem is getting rid of the snow."
From previous experience with storms of this size, there's only one place to take that snow in Pottsville: the JFK Recreation Area outside the pool complex.
Dump trucks piled high with snow began unloading in the vacant lot Friday morning.
The massive amount of snow kept students in Pottsville home from school a third straight day.
That forced some working parents to leave their kids in daycare.
"Well, I actually stayed home with them the past 2-days because we couldn't go anywhere." laughed Michelle Hahner - Pottsville. She dropped off her two children at the Trinity Center for Children.

The snow makes it tough for anyone trying to get around -- let alone someone with a disability.
Sandra Sarra struggled to get out for a bite to eat thanks to two storms in less than a week.
"The snow is still here from the last time. So, I'm praying that they clean it up this time," said Sarra.
It's a sentiment shared by everyone in a city digging itself out of a state of emergency.

The state of emergency in Pottsville was lifted by midday Friday.
Mayor Reiley said because the city was under a disaster emergency, state funds will help pay for the private contractors the city used.
As for those mountains of snow trucked away and dumped at the JFK Recreation Complex, the mayor joked the three best employees will take care of that: April, May and June.