Following the double-digit snowfall on Sunday and sub-zero temps this week, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato has declared a disaster emergency.
In a release, Innamorato says the declaration allows “the County to bypass normal procedures and immediately deploy all available resources for emergency response and recovery.”
With icy roads possible and extreme cold, there is a “serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of residents,” Innamorato says in her declaration.
Many schools are adjusting their schedules through at least Tuesday, with many districts closing or opting for remote learning.
Innamorato writes, in part:
I direct the Allegheny County Emergency Services Coordinator to coordinate all emergency response efforts, take necessary actions to reduce the impact of this disaster, assist in restoring essential services, and implement all emergency response measures deemed necessary.
The declaration also allows the county to hire temporary workers, rent or purchase necessary equipment and more.