It used to be the case that the first responders on the scene would assess the situation, the highest ranking responder on the scene would issue orders, and stuff would happen
Now they have to wait for the guy from PEMA (the PA version of FEMA) to arrive with his binders full of forms and procedures, and get approvals and coordination from all sorts of bureaucrats.
The problem is NOT, as Rendell asserts, that there was a "breakdown in communications among state agencies". The problem was that the Rendell Administration REQUIRED so much communication among state agencies in order for any action to be taken.
The way things should have worked (and they way things used to work) would have been:
First trooper on scene to dispatcher: "I-78 is blocked by tractor trailer. Road conditions are becoming impassible. I recommend closing the road"Dispatcher: "All units - start closing on-ramps to I-78 between XXX and YYY"
Not only I 78 but I 80 and I 81 are still closed.
Re: Post 23. Makes a lot of sense. I have lived in Allentown for 25 years and NEVER recall I-78 being closed for any length of time. I-81 and I-80 - yes.
I have wondered how in the world could there have been a pile up on 78 all the way from Harrisburg to Allentown. Once it was known that the road was impassable, how long does it take to shut down all the entrance ramps? I would think 1-2 hours - tops. Then the process could begin of turning cars around and getting them off the highway. How many thousands of cars would there be in a 50 mile two lane pile up? All those thousands of cars were permitted to get on I-78 in the stretch between Harrisburg and Allentown.
That is amazing to me it would have gotten to that point.
There is sheer stupidity on the part of thousands of people to drive out in a snow and ice storm they were severely warned about. But beyond that, who was asleep at the switch in getting I-78 access restricted?