Quick Info: Hurricane Irene and Malvern

[Updated Friday, 8/26/11, 8 p.m.]

Hurricane Irene is expected to hit the Malvern area Saturday night through Sunday afternoon. It could bring tropical storm conditions, including 3 to 6 inches of rain and wind gusts up to 40 mph. []

Chester County is under a tropical storm warning, and adjacent counties are under a hurricane warning. [] Pennsylvania is in a state of emergency. []

SEPTA will suspend service on the Paoli-Thorndale regional rail line Saturday at 5:30 p.m. All SEPTA services will come to a halt Sunday at 12:30 a.m. []

Don't call 911 for power outages. Call your electric service provider—PECO 800-841-4141 or PPL 800-342-5775.

Valley Forge REACT, an emergency shelter that serves Willistown, Malvern and East Whiteland, is located at 527 Berwyn Baptist Road, Berwyn, and can be reached at 610-644-3311. Here are other shelters and places to take pets.

Safety tips:

• Listen to NOAA radio online here. Search for Philadelphia and select the "standalone" player.
• Build a "to-go" emergency bag.
• Never drive through, or walk through flooded areas and stay away from moving flood waters. Six inches of flowing water can sweep you off your feet.
• Be prepared with flashlights and extra batteries.
• Check prescriptions for family members.
• Have at least three days of food and fresh water.
• Clean everything that gets wet in a flood. Floodwaters have probably picked up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms and factories. Spoiled food and flooded medicines and cosmetics are health hazards. 
• When streetlights are out, always stop and proceed with caution.
• Never touch any down wires.

More safety tips from [Chester County]  [Red Cross (PDF)]  [FEMA]

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