POST-STORM UPDATES:

POWER:

Tuesday, Oct 30: Much of the Saucon Valley is blacked out.

• As of 9:30pm power has been restored to parts of Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township. The Mountainview section in the borough and the Leithsville section of the township were both electrified, a number of Patch readers reported on Facebook. The borough also confirmed that parts of town were "back online."
• At 2:30pm PPL reported on its online Outage Center that more than 13,000 Saucon Valley customers were still without power. Crews are responding to areas where there are downed wires and/or critical care facilities first. Crews will next work on repairing major power lines and substations. Currently traffic lights throughout the Saucon Valley are not working. Intersections without working traffic lights are functioning as four-way stops.
• At 9:20am PPL reported more than 13,000 Lower Saucon Township customers without power. More than 60,000 customers in Northampton County were reported to be without power, and abotu 175,000 PPL customers in the Lehigh Valley (Lehigh and Northampton counties) were in the dark.
• Most Hellertown residents are reporting that the town is without power.
• Many local businesses are closed due to the power outage.

TRAFFIC:

Tuesday, Oct. 30:

• At 9:20am PennDOT reported the following road closures in Lower Saucon Township: Flint Hill Road between Waldheim Road and the Bucks County Line is closed due to a downed tree; and Bingen Road was closed between Black River Road and Mountain Drive due to a downed utility but is now open.
• At mid-afternoon Tuesday road closures in Lower Saucon Township included Seidersville Road between Old Philadelphia Pike and the Lehigh County line; Hickory Hill Road between Mountain Drive South and Route 378; Black River Road west of Old Philadelphia Pike; and Flint Hill Road between Waldheim Road and the Bucks County line. Other roads may be reduced to one lane due to debris. Use caution if driving anywhere in the township.

Editor's Note: "Like" Hellertown Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter in order to receive up-to-the-minute updates on weather, traffic, power and more. You can also like" Hellertown borough on Facebook and follow the borough on Twitter.

Although the first effects of Hurricane Sandy were felt in our area yesterday, for all intents and purposes today--Monday--marks the beginning of the true storm threat.

Hopefully you've prepared as best as you can for the wind and the rain, and you won't have to travel anywhere until the wicked weather we'll be receiving abates.

If you must go to work, drive with caution and be alert for temporary road closures, as some roads may be barricaded and impassable.

Keep in mind that if you attempt to drive through flood waters, you will not only be jeopardizing your life, but also the lives of the first responders whose duty it will be to rescue you. And ignoring a barricade in order to drive through a flooded roadway is now against the law in Pennsylvania, so you could face charges.

Consider this article to be an information hub, check back frequently for updates, and consider these important reminders as you prepare for today and beyond:

• In the event of a declaration of emergency by the mayor of Hellertown, the Dewey Fire Co. Social Hall will be opened as a comfort station.
• Recycling in Hellertown will be picked up Monday.
• If you still have unsecured objects outside your home, bring them inside or secure them to prevent them from becoming wind-blown projectiles.
• Monitor storm drains in your area. If one becomes clogged, rake leaves away from the drain.
• Keep flashlights and other necessities close at hand, so you'll easily be able to retrieve them if the power goes out.
• Do not attempt to operate a gas-powered generator indoors. Doing so could lead to a build-up of deadly carbon monoxide.
• Remember to check on the elderly.
• Keep pets indoors.
• If you're using them for light, do not allow candles to burn unattended.
• Fill your bathtub with water, so you can use it to flush your toilet in the event of loss of water pressure.

CLOSURES/CANCELLATIONS

Tuesday, Oct. 30

• Saucon Valley schools are CLOSED.
• St. Theresa school is CLOSED.
• Hellertown Borough offices are CLOSED.
• Lower Saucon Township offices are CLOSED. 
• The Saucon Valley Community Center will be CLOSED.
• Lower Saucon Township ballfields and the Polk Valley Dog Park will be CLOSED.
• NO GARBAGE COLLECTION in Hellertown. Please secure all containers.

Monday, Oct. 29

• Saucon Valley schools are closed Monday. All campus activities are canceled.
• St. Theresa School in Hellertown is closed Monday.
• St. Michael the Archangel School in Lehigh County is closed Monday.
• The Saucon Valley Community Center is closed Monday.
• The Hellertown Area Library is closed Monday. No materials are due, and no fines will be accrued. The book drop is open.
• Monday's 6pm Hellertown Borough Council budget meeting has been canceled.
• Hellertown garbage pickup has been canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday, but there will be garbage pickup Monday morning. 

STORM-RELATED COVERAGE:

• Red Cross Shelter Open at Noon Monday in Bethlehem
• Hurricane Shelter Opening for Lehigh Valley Pets (Thanks, Mariella, for getting this most excellent piece of UGC!)
• 10 Ways to Use Patch During Hurricane Sandy