UPDATE: Mayor Declares State of Emergency

Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo declared a disaster emergency due to Hurricane Irene, which he said is “threatening to cause injury, damage and suffering to the persons and property of Bensalem.”

The emergency declaration begins at 6 a.m. tomorrow.

“The weather reporting agencies are predicting flooding rains that…threatens to create problems greater in scope than Bensalem Township may be able to resolve,” the declaration stated noting that emergency management measures are required to reduce the severity of the disaster.

The Emergency Operators Center will be activated in preparation of the upcoming hurricane.

According to a release, all residents/businesses are asked to take necessary precautions. Everyone is asked to remain in their homes or move to a safe location. During the height of the storm, motorists are restricted from driving in the Township in order to allow Emergency personnel to respond and assist those in need.

“This is a serious situation,” DiGirolamo told Bensalem Patch.

Residents that live in low lying areas, that have the potential of flooding, are asked to seek shelter at an alternate location. DiGirolamo said three schools would be opened as shelters for residents that lose power or are otherwise affected by the storm.

The schools include:

• Cornwells Elementary School, 2215 Hulmeville Road
• Samuel K. Faust Elementary School, 2901 Bellview Dr.
• Russell C. Struble, 4300 Bensalem Blvd.

He said that the declaration puts the township’s emergency plan into effect.

“Staff from every department, from police and fire to public works, are part of the emergency team,” he said, noting that Public Safety Director Fred Harran is the leader of the team.

The declaration said Harran, the emergency management coordinator, shall “take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster, to aid in the restoration of essential public services, and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this disaster emergency.”

DiGirolamo wanted to stress that the township would spare no expense in responding to this storm.

“The safety of our residents comes before anything else,” he said. “We’ll do whatever we have to do.”

DiGirolamo asked that residents tune into township Comcast Channel 22 and Verizon Fios Channel 34 for a program about the emergency plan and for updates on the storm.

In case of emergency, dial 9-1-1. For non-emergency assistance please call 215-639-3700.