Could a Thunderstorm Ruin the Pope's Visit?

On Wednesday, local officials announced an additional 8,500 parking spots would be available at the Camden Waterfront for anyone who wants to go see Pope Francis during his visit to the Philadelphia region next week.

Just park there, and take the train or ferry, or walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge, they said.

But what happens in the event or rain? What happens in the event of a thunderstorm.

Pope Francis will visit Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families during his first visit to the United States on Sept. 26 and 27. It will be a Pope’s first visit to the region since 1979.

Most recent estimates have about 500,000 people set to attend a festival and concert in which he’ll appear; a million for his mass on Sept. 27; and about 40,000 for his appearance on Independence Mall, according to the Associated Press.

That’s a lot of people to move in the event of a bad storm.

The events will be held rain or shine, but evacuations are possible in the case of lightning, according to the report.

Philadelphia’s emergency operations center will receive updates from the National Weather Service, and send out alerts by text message and on the video walls along the parkway in case of severe weather, according to the report.

People will be directed to parking garages, their own hotels and restaurants, among other closed spaces, according to the report.

The National Weather Service isn’t keeping an eye on a specific storm, and thunderstorms rarely hit Philadelphia in September, according to the report.

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