Gov. Corbett: Pennsylvania Dodged a Bullet

“You could say we dodged a bullet,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett at a 9 a.m. press conference. “We don’t have a shore line, so New Jersey and New York got it worse.”

However, as of this morning, there are 1.3 million homes without power around Southeastern Pennsylvania after Hurricane Sandy hit land last night.

"If you're one of those without power," Corbett said, "you probably don't feel like you dodged a bullet."

State officials urge patience. All utility companies have brought in crews from other states to get the grid up and running. And there are nearly 700 active emergency shelters in operation now.

Corbett also said two people were killed in Pennsylvania Monday — an 8-year-old boy in Susquehanna County and a 62-year-old Berks County man — both killed by falling trees.

“As far as flooding, we’re in better shape this year than we were last year with Hurricane Irene,” said Corbett. However, 1,700 National Guard troops have been deployed, and the governor will talk with President Obama and the governors of New York and New Jersey about disaster assistance.

In that conversation, it will be determined if Pennsylvania will be declared a major disaster area.

Speed and vehicle restriction on most state roads have been lifted, but SEPTA and AMTRAK are still closed Tuesday, Oct. 30. For specific information in your area, check your local Patch and with the state at 511pa.com.

"Former Hurricane Sandy" will continue to weaken as it moves across western Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service reports the highest winds occurred overnight; however, we can still experience gusts up to 65 mph, enough to uproot large trees, though the winds are expected to gradually die down after 9 a.m.

The National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. Oct. 30 reported the center of the storm was just east of York, Pa. moving at 15 mph. It has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph with higher gusts. It is expected to continue west-northwest with reduced speed into western Pennsylvania with a turn north into New York and Canada tonight.

That was the last update from the NHC. Since the storm is no longer a hurricane and now inland, it is no longer monitoring it directly.