Local Town Issues 'Disaster Emergency' For Super Bowl Parade

WARMINSTER, PA —With fans fired up for Friday's parade to celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl victory, township officials are taking measures to protect residents and regional rail commuters.

The township is issuing a "Declaration of Disaster Emergency" Friday as fans flock to Philadelphia for the Eagles Super Bowl parade.

"This special event has or threatens to endanger the health, safety, and welfare of a substantial number of persons residing in Warminster Township, and threatens to create problems that may exceed Warminster Township’s standard operations," the declaration states.

The declaration goes into effect from 12:01 a.m. Friday until 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

The emergency declaration is because the Warminster Regional Rail Line station will be one of the few SEPTA stations open as the agency tries to control crowds and keep the public safe.

Township officials said the reason for the declaration is to "let the public know that Warminster has a plan in place for the safety of those individuals using the Warminster Line."

"They are taking measures for traffic safety and individual safety for those waiting to board the Warminster Line trains to the city," a township spokesperson told Patch.

With the alert, the Centennial School District will close its schools and offices on Friday.

The Warminster Line has stops in Warminster, Hatboro, Willow Grove, Abington, Roslyn, Glenside, Jenkintown, and Elkins Park, among others before heading into Philadelphia.

Township officials said that SEPTA has issued special instructions for its regional rail system for inbound and outbound trains to Philadelphia for the parade, including the Warminster Line and Warminster Line Station located at Jacksonville Road and Station Drive.

Township officials said the emergency management measures will be carried out by the township's emergency management director or his representative.

They are directed to coordinate the activities of the emergency response, to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster, to aid in the restoration of essential public services, and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this declared emergency as authorized by the Warminster Township emergency operations plan, the declaration states.