Category: Announcements || By Submitted Reports

(Updated: 11:56 a.m., 1:17 p.m.)

A critical shortage of salt for melting ice and snow has led McKeesport officials to declare a disaster emergency.

Residents are being urged to delay travel unless absolutely necessary, Mayor Mike Cherepko said. Penn State Greater Allegheny campus announced it was closing this afternoon (March 3) due to road conditions in the area.

In Westmoreland County, officials in Hempfield Twp. issued a similar warning. In nearby Sewickley Twp., officials urged caution but said they were lifting a voluntary travel restriction as of 1 p.m. today (March 3).

The city buys its salt through a joint purchasing program with the South Hills Area Council of Governments. Cherepko said road salt was ordered Feb. 10, but has yet to be shipped. The salt usually arrives within one to three days, he said.

"We have diligently rationed our remaining salt supply over the past few weeks, but it was critically depleted due to two house fires over the weekend," Cherepko said. Salt was needed to melt the ice as firefighters put out those blazes.

Roads in some neighborhoods have become "unsafe for travel," city police Chief Bryan Washowich said this morning. He asked residents who "do not have an emergency or life threatening situation" to remain at home and off of the roads until the roads can be treated.

"This will ensure your safety and allow emergency personnel to respond to calls throughout the city," Washowich said.

The city is "exhausting" all of its efforts to collaborate with local, county and state agencies to procure more salt, Cherepko said, and hopes to have the matter resolved "in the very near future."

In Westmoreland County, Sewickley Twp. officials issued the following statement early this morning:

"Sewickley Twp. requests all persons to limit driving only for essential purposes and to delay any non-emergency travel until roadway conditions improve. Those who must drive during this Winter Storm Warning are also cautioned to drive slower than the posted speed limit, as rapidly changing conditions may create hazardous driving conditions.

"This request has been issued because the township has been forced to go into salt-conservation mode for this storm due to high demand of road treatment materials. Less traffic on the roadways will expedite snow removal and facilitate emergency response times."

The township later announced the travel warning would be allowed to expire at 1 p.m.

In nearby Hempfield Twp., officials issued a similar warning, asking "all persons to limit driving only for essential purposes and to delay any non-emergency travel until roadway conditions improve. Those who must drive during this advisory are also cautioned to drive slower than the posted speed limit, as rapidly changing conditions may create hazardous driving situations."