PITTSBURGH, PA (August 31, 2021) The City of Pittsburgh is preparing for storm conditions as Ida travels up into the northeast corridor. The current forecast calls for excessive rain and possible flash flooding today and Wednesday.
The City is taking the following steps to prepare for the inclement weather:
- The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) and Department of Public Works (DPW) are cleaning out catch basins and storm drains.
- Swift Water Flood Response teams comprised of Pittsburgh Fire, EMS, and Police will be staffed from midnight tonight and begin staging in areas of the City that are most susceptible to flooding. The Zodiac-type vessels are equipped with life-saving equipment and teams of four to eight specially trained personnel.
- DPW Street and Forestry crews are preparing to address downed trees and other debris that may block streets.
- Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) electrical inspectors will be on-call to address any large-scale power outages.
During weather events, the City of Pittsburgh encourages everyone to exercise caution: leave your home only if needed, avoid all creeks and waterways and areas prone to flooding, do not drive through standing water, never drive around flood barriers or posted closures and abide by all detours.
“According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), in our region, 2.56 inches of rain needs to fall in one hour or 4.89 inches in a 24-hour period to be a 100-year storm,” said Mayor William Peduto. “For a 50-year storm, 2.3 inches must accumulate in one hour or 4.38 inches over 24 hours. We are preparing the City resources to address what comes our way and encourage our residents to use caution and take appropriate steps to stay safe.”
