State of Emergency Declared in Delaware

Filed in National by on February 10, 2010

Governor Markell has declared a state of emergency effective at midnight.  There is also a driving ban for all non-essential personnel.  Stay home and let the doctors, nurses, plows and cops do their work.

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  1. Mark H says:

    But interestingly enough, as of 5:18 AM, he hasn’t closed State offices yet. Down here in Dover we really haven’t got much snow so far

  2. meatball says:

    nothing but pain ‘ole rain here in Gtown.

  3. Mark H says:

    The philly weather station said the temps are going to drop in a few hours making for one heck of a mess. OF course after I got my shower (my workday starts at 6:30) the Gov closed the state 🙂

  4. Jim S says:

    OK my windshield is barely covered but yet it is illegal to drive to work? What kind of moron have we elected here? Way to go Markell, lets penalize the taxpayers again so you can get welfare from the National Guard.

  5. So far it looks like we’ve gotten about 4″ of snow here but it is icy and we already know that the bulk of the storm is coming during the day. It was a smart idea declare the state of emergency. Can you imagine the mess if everyone went to work and then the major snow fell? It would be a disaster.

  6. pandora says:

    Winter Storm Warning now changed to Blizzard Warning:

    THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING… WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT. THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

    A COASTAL STORM DEVELOPING OFF THE CENTRAL MID ATLANTIC COAST BEFORE SUNRISE WILL INTENSIFY EXPLOSIVELY TODAY. SNOW… AS WELL AS SLEET AND EVEN SOME FREEZING RAIN NEAR… SOUTH… AND EAST OF PHILADELPHIA WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW DURING THIS MORNING AS THE STORM MOVES NORTHWARD. THIS WILL CAUSE WINDS TO BACK TO NORTHEAST AND NORTH AND BRING COLDER AIR INTO THE REGION. WITH HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED TO DECREASE VISIBILITIES… AND STRONG WINDS GUSTING TO 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR THIS AFTERNOON… BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT TIMES MAINLY FROM ABOUT MIDDAY AND THROUGH THE AFTERNOON… POSSIBLY PERSISTING INTO EARLY TONIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF. HOWEVER… WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG THIS EVENING SO THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF BLOWING SNOW WITH REDUCED VISIBILITIES AS WELL TONIGHT.

    TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 12 TO 22 INCHES INTO EARLY TONIGHT… WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS STRADDLING THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR.

    Given this forecast Markell did the right thing. Everyone be safe.

  7. Joanne Christian says:

    Is that midnite tonite? We just got to work. Roads were fine.

  8. pandora says:

    Yes, Joanne. Midnight tonight. Buckle up – looks like we’re in for a bumpy ride!

  9. pandora says:

    Freezing rain is changing to snow right now in the city. Here we go!

  10. MJ says:

    We had some snow last night around 8-8:30 PM which changed over to rain overnight. Not doing anything right now. Roof over the cafeteria at Seaford Elementary collapsed this morning. Walmart in Milford is closed as a precaution. Cape schools are closed until next Tuesday. Federal government is closed again in DC, Baltimore, Philly.

  11. aqc says:

    Acme is requiring my teenage son to work five to ten this evening. Stupid! Who is actually going to be grocery shopping at that point?

  12. John Young says:

    To avoid confusion, the official order went into effect at 12:01AM today, it is in effect now until further notice.

    http://www.dema.delaware.gov/press_release/021010%20Joint_release_DE%20State%20offices%20closed%20%20_State%20of%20Emergency%20in%20effect.pdf

  13. Rebecca says:

    I’m updating mailing lists today. It’s a job that I purely hate so any alternative activity will usually distract me from doing it. But there is no alternative activity today, so I’m slogging through the 2010 cycle update. There is a silver lining. Well, at least a bronze one. I’m going to feel so good when I’ve finished.

  14. Mark H says:

    Almost to the end of Under The Dome…..

  15. Mike Matthews says:

    I started that back in November, Mark…and I’m only a third of the way through. I’m enjoying it, but it’s hard finding time to read it!! I’m working today, so not able to read it today, although it’d be the perfect day.

  16. Kbrooks says:

    Has the governor made a decision as to the current state of emergency for tomorrow Thursday February 11, 2010?

  17. Delaware Dem says:

    Kbrooks, the latest from the News Journal:

    State of Delaware offices will remain closed Thursday as a result of the snowstorm pounding the region, Gov. Jack Markell has ordered. […] A state of emergency issued by the governor early today remains in effect, barring all traffic on state roads except for emergency vehicles and essential personnel.

    Sussex County government spokesman Chip Guy said in an e-mail, “PLEASE STRESS to the public that they should not be out driving or attempting to drive on the roads this evening as conditions are as hazardous as they have been all day.”

    Non-essential state employees are not to report Thursday. Essential employees are to report as scheduled, said Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Catherine Kempista.

    A blizzard warning from the National Weather Service remains in effect for the entire state until midnight. Winds at Lewes gusted above 50 mph, to 43 mph at Dover Air Force Base and to 40 mph at New Castle Airport.

    I think it is a fair bet that the State of Emergency will remain in affect until noon tomorrow.

  18. Mark H says:

    Finished Under the Dome yesterday now onto “Drood” by Dan Simmons (who I find a better writer that King)