(Smyrna, DE) — Sixteen area children from eight schools have been selected for awards for producing art work to be included in the 2016 -2017 PSEG Nuclear Emergency Plan Information Brochure for Delaware and New Jersey.

The honorees were chosen from among hundreds of elementary school students who submitted art work.  All of the participating schools are in the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ), which is the area within a 10 mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Generating Stations in New Jersey.  The brochure that will be mailed to residents of the EPZ this year replaces the annual calendar.  Artwork will be posted to the Delaware Emergency Management Agency’s  (DEMA) website in the near future.

WINNERS and SCHOOLS are listed:

Deja Hackett, Ava Taylor – Brick Mill Elementary School

Jenna Wilson, Shaelynn Walz – Cedar Lane Elementary School

Madelynn Nevin, Myla Guevara – Kathleen H. Wilbur Elementary School

Tyler Edwards, Morgan Kropiewnicki – Old State Elementary School

Naima Ellis-Daniels, Margaret Randolph – St. Anne’s Episcopal School

Megan Lin, Linley Howard – Silver Lake Elementary School

Antonio Hojilla Fermin, Mollie Lukowski – Southern Elementary School

Jade Balon, Sophia Thurrott – Townsend Elementary School

Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Director A.J. Schall was joined by David Burgin, Corporate Manager-Emergency Preparedness at PSEG in honoring the students.  They were presented with gifts and certificates during a ceremony Wednesday, May 25, at the Middletown Fire Hall.

 (Smyrna) – Delaware will be among 22 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia to participate in a test of the Emergency Notification Systems on Wednesday, February 24 at 2:20 PM.   Radio and television broadcasters along with cable operators will voluntarily participate in the test, which is scheduled to last for one minute.

The test will verify the delivery and broadcast, and assess the readiness for distribution of a national-level test message. The message of the test will be similar to the regular monthly test message of EAS, normally heard and seen by the public: “This is a national test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test.”

The test is to help public safety officials be sure that methods and systems that would be used to deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public when needed during emergencies are operating as expected. Through periodic testing, the operational readiness of the infrastructure used to deliver a national message can be assessed, and necessary improvements in technologies that may be needed can be identified.

More information on the Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) is available atwww.fema.gov/ipaws or www.ready.gov/alerts.

(Smyrna) –Governor Jack Markell submitted a formal request today to President Barack Obama, asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the State of Delaware as a result of the winter nor’easter that impacted the state during the weekend of January 22^nd.

In his letter to President Obama, the governor noted over three days of weather conditions of large snowfall totals, damaging winds, and coastal flooding causing substantial damage, particularly in coastal areas of the state.  A State of Emergency was implemented, while Governor Markell authorized the Delaware National Guard to deploy assets throughout the state.  The Delaware Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated, driving restrictions were issued by the Governor, and fire and police departments, and municipal and county EOCs were also activated for multiple days in response to the storm.

Governor Markell’s disaster declaration request also lists the substantial damage to the Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach boardwalks, as well as major damage or destruction suffered by 28 homes and businesses.

The request specifically asks the President for Public Assistance in the form of a Major Disaster Declaration for Sussex County, along with Hazard Mitigation Funding to be made available to all three counties.  Governor Markell’s request letter states that total expenditures are expected to be in excess of $2.56-million.

In announcing his request of the President, Governor Markell stated: “January’s nor’easter produced large snowfall totals, damaging winds as well as substantial and damaging coastal flooding across the State. Homes and businesses sustained major damage or were destroyed and state-maintained beaches suffered major erosion and dune breaches. I’ve requested $2.5 million in public assistance through a federal disaster declaration to help repair damage done by the storm, and hopefully that money will help our coastal communities rebuild what they’ve lost and prepare for the thousands of people who visit each summer.”

Following two days of site assessments by personnel from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), and on-site inspections by officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it was determined that Delaware may qualify for Public Assistance funding through a Presidential Disaster Declaration.  Estimated costs for Public Assistance are listed in the request at $1,876,959.29 in Sussex County, $559,763.06 in Kent County, $130,257.24 in New Castle County.  The funds requested in the disaster declaration would not include any beach work in Delaware done in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

(Smyrna) – The Level 2 Driving Restrictions for New Castle and Kent Counties issued yesterday by Governor Jack Markell, will be downgraded to a Level 1 Warning at 10:00am this morning (Sunday).  The Level 1 Warning will continue for Sussex County.  When a Level 1 Driving Warning is in place, non-essential personnel, regardless of whether employed by a public or private entity, are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle on public roadways, unless there is a significant health, safety or business necessity reason for doing so.

The clean-up and recovery from the blizzard and winter storm that hit Delaware and a number of other states Friday and Saturday is underway.  But our main concern statewide this morning is flooding.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect in New Castle County until 1:00pm today.  A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until noon Sunday for Kent and Sussex Counties.  For New Castle County, minor flooding is anticipated during the midday high tide, which occurs around 12:30pm.  Localized roadway flooding is expected and some roads may be closed due to high water.  Downstate, water levels are expected to decrease this afternoon as the northwest wind begins pushing water away from the shore.  But flooding is expected during the evening high tide.  Roadway flooding and minor property damage is possible, along with more beach erosion.

DelDOT continues to work to clear roads.  DelDOT’s North District (the area north of I-95) reports that roads are snow covered with some wet roadways.  In the Canal District (I-95 south to the New Castle/Kent County line) primary roads are reported to have up to an inch of snow and up to 13 inches for secondary and minor roads.

The Central District (Kent County) indicates that conditions vary from wet to icy to snow covered.  2 inches of snow on primary roads, 3 inches on secondary roads, and up to 12 inches on the minor roads in Kent County.  There are also flooded roads: Bowers Beach Road into the town is closed at Whitewells Delight Road due to flooding.  There is high water on Route 42 at Leipsic, Route 9 at Fleming’s Landing, and Northeast Front Street in Milford.

In the South District (Sussex County) we have a mixed bag of conditions.  Primary and secondary roads are reported to be wet and covered with a half-inch to an inch of snow, while 3-6 inches of snow is on secondary and minor roads.  Flooding is an issue in the coastal areas.  Prime Hook and Broadkill Roads are considered to be impassable due to water depths.  And because of some of the water velocities experienced yesterday, there is the potential for damage to Prime Hook Road.  Route 1 along the ocean  between North Fenwick and Lewes Drive has been re-opened, while Route 1 between Hudson Road and the Town of Dewey Beach remains closed.

Other road closures in Sussex County include: the New Road Bridge near Canary Creek Drive near Lewes, the bridge on Pilottown Road, and on Route 89 near the Milton Fire Hall.  Also closed due to flooding are River Road between roads 297 and 312A, Long Neck Road from Whitehouse Road to Massey’s Landing, Road 341 between Route 26 and Road 343, Road 360 from Route 26 to Wingate Road, and Fred Hudson Road to South Dewey – closed.

The Delaware National Guard positioned personnel and vehicles throughout the state during the storm to provide assistance where needed.  Crews from Delmarva Power and the Delaware Electric Cooperative have worked throughout the storm to quickly restore power.

Snowfall accumulations vary across the state, with the highest reported at 16.2 inches of snow in Woodside, 13.3 inches of snow in West Dover, 13.1 at New Castle, with the lowest at Lewes where gauges measured 2.4 inches of snow.

Other snow amounts: in New Castle County: and 12.5 at Port Penn, 12.2 at Greenville and Hockessin, 11.7 at Claymont, 11.2 inches at Prices Corner, 11.0 at White Clay Creek, 10.1 at Glasgow and Talleyville, 10.0 inches in Newark, 9.7 in Smyrna, and 6.8 at Blackbird.  Kent County has 11.7 inches of snow in Harrington, 11.2 inches in Dover, and 10.0 in Frederica.  Sussex County has 7.8 inches of snow in Laurel, 6.5 in Ellendale, 4.9 inches in Bridgeville, 4.3 inches at Stockley and 4.0 inches in Seaford and Selbyville.  Snowfall measurements may vary in some areas.

(Smyrna) – New Castle and Kent Counties remain under the Level 2 Driving Restrictions issued at 8:00am this morning by Governor Jack Markell, while the Level 1 driving restrictions continue for Sussex County.  Under Level 2 restrictions, no person shall operate a motor vehicle on a Delaware roadway, unless such person is considered “essential personnel” within the meaning of Delaware law.  Such personnel include emergency workers, individuals maintaining or repairing public utilities, healthcare providers including hospital staff, snow removal equipment operators, food and fuel delivery personnel, and employees of any industry, company or organization that has applied for and been granted a waiver from the driving restriction, including businesses with pressing continuity and operational issues..  When a Level 1 Driving Warning is in place, non-essential personnel, regardless of whether employed by a public or private entity, are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle on public roadways, unless there is a significant health, safety or business necessity reason for doing so.

The Blizzard Warning continues for New Castle and Kent Counties until 6:00am Sunday.  Total accumulations of 15-20 inches of snow are expected in New Castle County, while Kent County is forecast to receive 14-20 inches of snow, with 8-14 inches closer to the coast.  A Winter Weather Warning remains in effect until 6am Sunday for Sussex County with an expected accumulation of 8-15 inches inland, and 4-8 inches at the Delaware beaches.  Snow in New Castle County will taper off late tonight.  Kent County should see the snow taper off around midnight, while Sussex County will experience a mix of snow, sleet, and rain, then all snow before it tapers off just after midnight.

A Coastal Flood Advisory will be in effect in New Castle County from 9:00am until 1:00pm Sunday.  A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until noon Sunday for Kent and Sussex Counties.  Moderate to major coastal flooding is expected tonight and possibly again Sunday morning. The major flooding experienced this morning in Sussex County is not expected to occur again.  The coastal flooding will last for three consecutive high tide cycles, pushing water up against the coast and into back bays and estuaries.

The next high tides on the Delaware oceanfront will occur between 8:00 and 9:00pm Saturday evening, and between 7:00 and 8:00am Sunday morning.  High tide on back bays and the Delaware Bay will occur later than along the ocean.  Wave heights in near-shore waters over the weekend are forecast to build as high as 18 to 22 feet this evening then subsiding slowly for the morning high tide cycle.  Wave heights on the Delaware Bay will reach as high as 4 to 8 feet tonight and Sunday.               Some roadway flooding is expected, along with moderate property damage, and significant beach erosion.  People living in flood-prone areas should be prepared for rising water levels and to take appropriate action to protect lives and property.

DelDOT continues to work to clear roads.  Major roads in New Castle County are clear but high winds and drifting snow continue to re-cover road surfaces drifts.  Secondary roads in New Castle County still have snow on them; some in Kent County are extremely drifted, and re-covered with snow in Sussex County, particularly inland.

Route 1 between Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach is closed due to flooding.  DelDOT also reports that the New Road Bridge near Canary Creek Drive near Lewes is closed to due high water completely covering the bridge.  The New Road Bridge will remain closed until DelDOT conducts an inspection of the span, after the water recedes.  Pilottown Road at the end of the Coast Guard station, and the Canal Bridge in Lewes are also closed.  Flooding is reported in the Bowers Beach as well as the Long Neck and Oak Orchard areas,

The speed limit on I495 has been reduced to 45 MPH.  Traffic accidents have been reported statewide, mostly property damage, and there have been reports of scattered disabled vehicles.  Drifting snow continues to be a problem.

Delaware Transit Corporation fixed route and intercounty and paratramsot service was suspended Saturday.  SEPTA suspended Saturday service operating in Delaware.  AMTRAK ran a modified schedule in the northeast, as the winter storm slammed into multiple states.

Only one shelter has opened – at Sussex Central High School near Georgetown.  Delaware Division of Public Health officials remind people evacuated from the flooding that will be allowed to bring their pets and companions animals, including cats, dogs, and other small animals to the shelter.   Pet food, water, medicines, cat litter, and bedding should be brought along with the animal.  Public Health Office of Animal Welfare volunteers will be staffing the shelter to help with the animal boarding and providing of basic needs.

Delaware National Guard positioned personnel and vehicles throughout the state to provide assistance where needed.

There are just fewer than 1300 power outages currently statewide, mostly in Sussex County.   High winds and wet snow continue to present the possibility of more downed electric and other utility lines a concern for the weekend.

Snowfall accumulations vary across the state, with the highest reported at 15.5 inches of snow in Woodside, 12.8 inches of snow in West Dover, and 12.5 at Port Penn, with the lowest at Lewes where gauges measured 2.4 inches of snow.

Other snow amounts: in New Castle County: 11.0 at New Castle, 10.8 at White Clay Creek, 10.7 inches at Prices Corner, 9.6 at Greenville, 9.6 at Hockessin, 8.6 at Glasgow, 8.5 in Smyrna, 8.1 in Talleyville, and 8.0 in Newark, 7.8 at Claymont, and 5.6 at Blackbird.  Kent County has 9.3 inches of snow in Dover, 9.0 in Harrington, and 7.9 in Frederica.  Sussex County has 7.4 inches of snow in Laurel, 6.5 in Ellendale, 4.9 inches in Bridgeville, 4.3 inches at Stockley and 4.0 inches in Seaford and Selbyville.