(Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) reminds residents that hurricane season along the Atlantic coast begins on Sunday, June 1^st, and runs through the end of November.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center says there is a 70% chance that the Atlantic hurricane season will bring six to eleven named storms, and that three to six will become hurricanes with two of them coming between categories 3 and 5.

While the prediction is for a below-normal season, forecasters cannot predict exactly where any of the anticipated storms will impact the Atlantic coast.  The time to prepare for seasonal storms is now, before a storm arrives.  Preparatory actions taken in advance will help save lives and property if a tropical storm or hurricane affects Delaware in 2015.

Emergency Preparedness kits should be in every household. The basics of food, water, and supplies should be included.  Important information such as insurance policies and physician phone numbers need to also be included.  Power outages may render credit cards and ATMs useless so a supply of cash should be in the emergency kit.

Residents of coastal or flood-prone areas need to have an evacuation plan.  Make arrangements now to stay away from the affected areas with friends or relatives, or at a hotel.  If a shelter is the only option, make sure to have the basic supplies for a few days in the shelter.  Take sleeping bags, pillows, blankets and personal hygiene supplies.  If sheltering with children, games that do not require batteries and books can help pass the time.  Baby foods and diapers should be included if appropriate.

Home supplies include water – at least a gallon per day for a minimum of three days.  Food supplies should include at least a three-day supply of non-perishable items.  Since there may be power outages that could last for several days following a storm, it is a good idea to stock canned foods, dry mixes, and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water, or special preparation.  Be sure to include a manual can opener and eating utensils.  Paper plates and plastic utensils are disposable and do not require washing.  Make sure to refill prescriptions that are about to expire before the storm arrives, as pharmacies may be closed due to power outages.

For a listing of supplies that should be part of an emergency kit, go online to www.ready.gov and click on “Build a Kit”.

Families should prepare a communication plan since members may be separated during the storm.  The communication plan may include a means of letting friends and relatives know that people have arrived safely at their destination in the event of an evacuation.

An emergency kit containing the recommended items is ready for use in all types of emergencies, including hurricanes and tropical storms.  Regular utilities such as electricity, gas, sewage treatment, and telephone service, may be unavailable for several days, so the emergency kit will help people get through any outages.

For more tips on how to prepare your family and home for tropical storms or hurricanes, log on to http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

(Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Delaware Division of Public Health will distribute potassium iodide (KI) tablets to Delaware residents living within a ten mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.

The free tablets will be distributed on Thursday, April 9, 2015, between noon and 7:00PM at the Townsend Fire Station.  The station is located 107 Main Street in Townsend.  Delaware residents living within the affected ten mile radius, called the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ), have received notification of the distribution via U.S. Mail.

Potassium Iodide will be available to residents who received it previously and whose tablets have reached their expiration date, as well as those who never received the tablets before.  Individuals with home or business addresses within the EPZ are eligible to receive the KI tablets.  The State of Delaware received the tablets when it chose to participate in a program initiated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Potassium iodide does not protect against external radiation, but can help protect the thyroid gland from ingested or inhaled radioactive iodine that might be released in a radiation emergency.  KI is one of the measures outlined in Delaware’s emergency plans developed for use in a nuclear incident.  The primary method of protecting residents is evacuation of the EPZ.  Potassium iodide offers additional protection.

In the event of a radiation emergency, state and local officials will inform the public through an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message via local radio stations.  The messages will include instructions on how affected residents should react, directions to evacuation routes and emergency reception centers, and when to take the KI tablets.

All Delaware residents living within the 10-mile EPZ, as well as those who work or own businesses within the Emergency Planning Zone are eligible to receive the free potassium iodide tablets.  By following the guidelines included in the informational mailing, they can assist in making the distribution effective and efficient.

Those who are eligible to receive the KI tablets should bring a photo ID such as a driver’s license, or proof of residency such as a utility bill with them to the distribution center at Townsend Fire Station.  Individuals in possession of potassium iodide that has passed the expiration date can bring those tablets to the distribution center to receive new tablets.

Delaware residents living outside of the 10-mile EPZ who would like to obtain potassium iodide tablets should contact their pharmacist.  KI is available over-the-counter at some local pharmacies.

For additional information regarding the potassium iodide distribution program in Delaware, call the Delaware Emergency Management Agency Radiological Emergency Planning section at 302-659-3362.

(Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Delaware State Police will conduct a quarterly test of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations Alert and notification system on Tuesday, April 7, 2015.  The sirens will sound between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

The 37 sirens located within ten miles of the Salem/Hope Creek (New Jersey) plants will be activated for three to five minutes.  The siren tests will be followed by a test message of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local radio stations.

Sirens that will be tested are the same sirens that would alert the public in the event of an actual emergency at either the Salem or Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.  In such an emergency, the public would be alerted by the sirens to tune radios to one of the local EAS stations for important emergency instructions.

(Smyrna) – State offices were closed today by order of Governor Jack Markell, with non-essential employees told to not report, while essential employees reported at their normal times.  County offices in New Castle and Sussex Counties were closed, but Kent County officers were open, although operating under a liberal leave policy.

The statewide Winter Weather Warning remains in effect until 7:00pm this evening.  The storm system moved into the state slower than expected.   Despite the slower speed, the National Weather Service forecast of 4-8 inches of snow in New Castle and Kent Counties, and 4-6 inches in Sussex County remains in place.  Moderate to heavy snow is falling across the state, and the snow is expected to end by sunset.  Temperatures will drop tonight and overnight, resulting in a low temperature at sunrise Friday in the single digits.  North to northwest gusting winds up to 20 MPH will combine with the low temperatures to create sub-zero wind chills.

The Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) reports the highest amount of snowfall in the state (as of 4:30pm) is at Greenville with 6.9 inches.  The highest accumulation amounts are in the northern parts of the state, while along the coast, Bethany Beach is reported with just a trace of snow.   Dover has more than 4 inches, while the highest accumulation in Sussex County is 3.5 inches in Ellendale.

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) crews have been on the road all day in all three counties.  A number of collisions have been reported across the state as road conditions have become hazardous.

Amtrak is running a modified service schedule, while the hours of operation for DART transit service has been modified, with early shut downs.  Details can be found at http://www.dartfirststate.com.

The speed limit on I495 was lowered to 45 MPH.  and the speed on I295 at the Delaware Memorial Bridge was dropped to 35 MPH.

There have been a few power outages across the state so far, with no more than two dozen at any particular time.

Many schools in Delaware were closed.  A full listing of school closings can be found at http://schoolclosings.delaware.gov/.

(Smyrna) – Governor Jack Markell ordered state offices closed between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm today, with non-essential employees told to not report while essential employees were to report at their normal times.  County offices in New Castle and Sussex Counties were also closed today, while Kent County officers were opened, but with a liberal leave policy in effect.  A statewide Winter Weather Warning remains in effect until 7:00pm this evening.

Although the storm system moved into Delaware much more slowly than originally expected, the National Weather Service continues to forecast 4-8 inches of snow in New Castle and Kent Counties, and 4-6 inches in Sussex County.  Some areas of the state are now seeing moderate to heavy snow, which will continue throughout the afternoon.  Accumulating snow is expected to end by sunset.  Temperatures will drop tonight and overnight, resulting in low temperature at sunrise Friday in the single digits.  North to northwest winds will combine with the low temperatures to create sub-zero wind chills.  Winds gusting up to 30 MPH closer to the Atlantic coast could create some blowing snow.

The Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) reports the highest amount of snowfall in the state so far is at Greenville with 3.8 inches, and less than a half-inch of snow so far in Smyrna.  Some parts of Kent County are showing just a trace of snow on the ground, and no reported accumulation in Sussex County.

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) are at work in all three counties.  A number of minor collisions have been reported across the state as road conditions get more slippery.

The number of power outages across the state have been few so far, but officials remain concerned that the wet snow accumulation could result in downed power lines.

Many schools in Delaware closed for the day.  A full listing of school closings is available at http://schoolclosings.delaware.gov/.