Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration today reminded private sector businesses about tools available to help them prepare for emergencies such as severe winter weather and help them resume normal business operations quickly.
“Pennsylvania contributes significantly to our nation's economy and it's businesses of all sizes that drive our economic engine," said Randy Padfield, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. “Working with private sector partners before, during and after an emergency helps businesses maintain operations and makes communities more resilient."
PEMA's Pennsylvania Business Emergency Operations Center (PA BEOC), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and PA State Police, in coordination with the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association recently held a winter weather preparedness and resources workshop for Pennsylvania businesses. Highlights of the workshop included ways to stay informed when severe weather strikes and how businesses can build their own resilience by becoming a Trusted Partner with the PA BEOC.
“When winter weather affects travel and the movement of goods, reliable exchange of information with our private-sector partners is essential for safety," said Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Adam Reed, Director of the PSP Communications Office. “This exchange of information gives us a better understanding of what's happening and allows us to make better decisions."
The PA BEOC coordinates preparedness and response information and updates from multiple state agencies. Sharing critical information with businesses of all sizes, the PA BEOC offers a forum for a trusted, two-way information exchange and provides an invaluable opportunity for private sector and government to build a common understanding of the impact of an incident.
“The Shapiro Administration is laser focused on safe and efficient travel, and when winter weather is thrown our way we want to meet the mission while helping our business partners as much as we can," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Through information shared by PEMA, our team, and our 511PA service, businesses can prepare and know what to expect from the Commonwealth in emergencies and inclement weather."
During severe weather events, PA BEOC partners have access to the PA BEOC dashboard and regular email notifications to help businesses know what to plan for. Information such as: weather forecasts, anticipated road conditions and travel restrictions, reported utility outages, federal or state waivers, Proclamations of Disaster Emergency and operational reports.
While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, businesses and motorists who must travel during winter storms can supplement BEOC information by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.
Participation in the PA BEOC is voluntary and open to businesses of all sizes. The PA BEOC provides opportunities for business to participate in resilience exercises and trainings throughout the year. Businesses can learn more about private sector integration and how to become a Trusted Partner with the PA BEOC by visiting PEMA's website.