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Philadelphia-area Taking Precautions As Experts Monitor Hurricane Joaquin

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Emergency management officials in the greater Philadelphia area are bracing for the nor'easter and potential of Hurricane Joaquin.

Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania, says her agency already is mobilizing.

 

"We absolutely have staff ready to go. We're beginning our dialogue with our community partners throughout the region, the Office of Emergency Management to determine where shelters will be located in the event of flooding."

Cardwell Hughes says in the event of flooding in neighborhoods that forces people to leave their homes, she says emergency management personnel and police would assist in evacuation and Red Cross personnel would be staffing shelters.

"Have a battery-operated radio so that you can get information from KYW because that's the first place we will hear it in our community. It's also really important that you charge up your cell phone."

Chris Edwards, a spokesman for Bucks County's emergency management operations, says they'll be keeping an eye on the Delaware River and Neshaminy Creek.

"We've had a lot of experience with fall hurricanes in the past few years and I think everyone is ready to mobilize and to get to higher ground if that becomes necessary and we're monitoring very closely. I know there's concern."

Edwards is advising residents Bucks residents who live in flood-prone areas to pay attention to updated forecasts in the coming days.

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