Official sees snow as blessing

First Posted:

EDWARD LEWIS [email protected]
WILKES-BARRE – For many people, the latest snowstorm was just another nuisance.

But for Alan Pugh, the storm was a blessing in disguise.
The storm that was forecasted earlier in the week for all rain came as snow lessening any threat of flooding along the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County.
“The snow in New York helped a lot,” said Pugh, the county’s public safety director.
The river crested at 22.98 feet just before 8 p.m. Friday, according to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center based in State College. As of 6:45 p.m. Saturday, the river was at 17.2 feet.
Earlier in the week, Pugh and his staff at the county’s Emergency Management Agency building were told to expect the river to reach 26 to 28 feet. At that level, lowland areas and several roads in Shickshinny and West Nanticoke become flooded.
“The main contributing factor came out of the upper river basin with the snowpack melting,” Pugh said. “About 90 percent of the snowpack up there melted which is equivalent to two to four inches of water. Luckily, what helped keep the river levels down from the original forecast of 28 feet was the rain changing over to snow. That helped.”
Pugh said he doesn’t expect any problems with the newest snowpack up north when temperatures rise into the 40s during the next week.
“Over the next week, the National Weather Service doesn’t expect any significant precipitation,” Pugh said.
Temperatures overnight during the next week are expected to dip below freezing slowing the runoff from the melting snowpack, Pugh said.
“It will cause the snowpack to melt at a slower rate, which is good,” he said.
As the snow cancelled any concerns with the river, it did cause problems at the county’s 911 center.
Soon after county commissioners declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon, the 911 center became inundated with unnecessary calls.
“When we did declare the state of emergency, suddenly the 911 center got swamped with calls mostly from the stores and restaurants up by the (Wyoming Valley) mall,” said Kathy Bozinski, county public information officer. “They were primarily asking if they need to close and send their employees home because of a travel ban. There was no travel ban, just a travel advisory.
“We didn’t restrict travel but it was a travel advisory to keep as many people off the road so crews can deal with the roads,” Bozinski said.
When the county declared a state of emergency during the Feb. 14 snow and ice storm, a travel ban was put in place.
Bozinski said a state of emergency is declared to allow county officials to seek reimbursement from the state or federal governments for cleanup costs. It also allows municipalities to hire private contractors bypassing the bidding process.
Officials can add restrictions or other information that they believe is needed during a state of emergency, Bozinski said.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.