SEPTA Will Suspend All Service During Irene: Paoli-Thorndale Line to Stop at 5 p.m. Saturday

SEPTA has announced it will suspend service on the Paoli-Thorndale Regional Rail Line from Saturday at 5 p.m. through the duration of Hurricane Irene.

In an unprecedented ALL SEPTA services will stop running at 12:30 a.m. Sunday because of the anticipated magnitude of the storm.

SEPTA said in a news release that service is not expected to resume "until at least midday Sunday." It will then be continued on a route by route basis.

Some regional other rail lines will also stop running early. SEPTA said Chestnut Hill West service, for example, will be cut off at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Any announcements that have to do with service resumptions will be posted on SEPTA's website and will be disseminated through other channels, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's office.

"SEPTA strongly urges all customers who normally ride the system during this time period to make arrangements to go to your destination well in advance of the storm and be prepared to remain safely at that location until the storm has passed and service has resumed," the agency said in the release.

Nutter spoke during a news conference Friday afternoon that was organized so the city could talk to the public about the upcoming hurricane.

State of Emergency Declared in Three States

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett also declared a state of emergency Friday after New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and other states had already done so.

An emergency declaration will enable local governments to better respond to Hurricane Irene and the damage it is expected to inflict upon the Philadelphia area.

“We are urging all Pennsylvanians to take action now to be prepared,’’ Corbett said in a news release posted to the state’s website. “We will continue to monitor this changing situation statewide and plan for all possible emergencies. Should the need arise, we will be able to help as quickly and efficiently as possible.’’

Forecasts indicate the storm will hit its intensity here Saturday night and into Sunday with winds gusts of 60 mph or more. Irene is expected to dump up to 10 inches of rain on an already sodden Philadelphia area.

The National Weather Service and the governor’s office are warning residents that these conditions could lead to downed trees and utility wires, resulting in major power outages and flash flooding.

Preparations in Tredyffrin and Easttown

Tredyffrin Township Manager Mimi Gleason said the declaration of emergency in Pennsylvania makes it possible for local governments to rent or purchase items, such as heavy equipment or generators without having to go through normal and often time consuming bidding and purchasing procedures in a situation where time can be critical.

Gleason echoed the sentiments of other public officials up and down the East Coast in urging township residents to stay off the roads during the storm to make it easier for emergency vehicles to get around and to avoid cars being stuck or swept up by flood waters.. She also cautioned residents not to venture in flood waters or creeks which can sweep people up quickly.

Easttown Assistant Township Manager Mike Brown echoed those warnings. Both township administrators said that in case of a real emergency during the storms calling 9-1-1 is the best option.