Gov Shapiro Signs Proclamation of Disaster Emergency | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency to make resources available to prepare for and support response efforts for the upcoming winter storm which will impact Pennsylvania this weekend.

"Our teams at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) have been working to prepare to support Pennsylvanians as this winter storm impacts our Commonwealth," said Governor Josh Shapiro."Today, I signed a disaster declaration for the entire Commonwealth to ensure our agencies have all necessary resources ready to go. Stay off the roads if you can, be safe, and follow instructions from PEMA and your local authorities."

The Governor's disaster declaration will allow the Commonwealth to quickly draw down funding and provide state agencies with the resources needed to assist counties and municipalities with winter storm response efforts. The 2025-26 budget, signed into law by Governor Shapiro, doubled the amount of state funding available from $20 million to $40 million to enable state agencies to respond to disasters in the Commonwealth to keep visitors and residents safe.

"This declaration gives PEMA the flexibility to pre-position resources, streamline coordination, and respond quickly if conditions deteriorate this weekend," said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. "At the same time, we urge Pennsylvanians to do their part by preparing ahead of the storm, staying informed, and making decisions that protect themselves and others."

Earlier today, the Shapiro Administration provided updates on the Commonwealth's preparedness efforts in a press conference at PEMA. The Commonwealth Response Coordination Center has been activated at PEMAand will be staffed for the duration of the storm to ensure quick and coordinated response by state agencies. Yesterday, Governor Shapiro announced state preparedness efforts were already underway.

Motorists are advised not to travel during this storm. While the disaster declaration does not explicitly prohibit travel, motorists should be aware of local-level road restrictions that may be in place.

If travel is essential, PennDOT reminds motorists that they can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting 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 regional X alerts.

Visit ReadyPA for information on preparing for this winter storm.