DelDOT Prepares For Hurricane Irene

Dover -- As of Thursday, August 25th, weather forecasters indicate that Hurricane Irene is likely to have an impact on Delaware's weather over the weekend. Preparations are being made by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to respond to the potential for damage caused by the hurricane and any possible evacuations that may be ordered.

DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt has issued reminders to all divisions within the department to review emergency procedures, ensure readiness of staff and equipment and to be ready to take action, if needed.

Crews at some construction sites have been told to begin securing loose objects and to make sure signs have been weighted with sand bags to protect them against winds. Crews began working Thursday morning at seven locations to remove a total of twelve overhead signs. The signs, located on SR 1, are wire-mounted fire signs that span the roadway and have the potential to be damaged or cause damage in sustained winds. The span wires and flashing lights at the locations will remain. Sign removal began on Thursday so that crews would be out of the way in the event of a decision to evacuate resort areas later in the week.

At the Indian River Inlet Bridge, crews have engaged hurricane tie-downs on each side of the inlet which help anchor the structure to a piling in the ground. Construction cranes and other supplies and equipment are being re-positioned as necessary. The south side form traveler will remain in its current position, tied to the structure.

DelDOT is working in close conjunction with the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and officials continue to monitor the changing weather conditions. In the meantime, the department urges Delaware residents and visitors to familiarize themselves with potential evacuation routes for their area and to begin planning for their own well-being in the event of a major storm over the weekend. Those people living in or visiting low-lying areas or along beaches should be prepared to move early should an evacuation notification be issued. If the state experiences tropical force winds it may become necessary to close some bridges to traffic due to safety considerations. Designated evacuation routes are indicated by signs along the roadways and can be viewed - by county - on DelDOT's web site.

Those interested in viewing actual maps of the designated evacuation routes can click on www.deldot.gov, go to "Traffic Information", then click on "Evacuation Routes" (http://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/tmt/evac_map.shtml). Detailed information on evacuation routes and plans are posted at that site.

Visitors and residents are urged to continue to monitor local radio and television stations and the internet for the latest weather information. DelDOT will post important information on the department's web site, distribute information via Facebook and Twitter, and make announcements on WTMC-AM (1380).