Saucon Valley residents in need of temporary assistance due to Hurricane Irene can contact the following organizations: Weis Food Market, 7001 Route 309, Coopersburg is offering 2 bags of ice and 3 gallons of water for free to all PPL customers. Call 610-282-3039 with any questions. Steel City Mennonite Church, 2137 Mixsell Ave., Bethlehem (Lower Saucon), PA 18015 can provide refrigeration storage and restrooms. Contact Pastor David Kochsmeier at 610-865-4899 for times. Second Harvest Pantry and area food bank locations are as follows: Holy Bethel Pentecostal Church, 1224 E. 4th St., …

UPDATE, Aug. 30, 3:30pm: Township officials reported that Wassergass Road has reopened to traffic. Lower Saucon Township officials are still measuring the impact to local roads from Hurricane Irene, but on Monday issued an initial assessment in the wake of the fierce weekend storm that caused flash flooding and wind damage throughout the area. According to the public works department report, provided by Township Manager Jack Cahalan, seven township roads were closed due to flooding caused by the storm, including Colesville Road (between Manor Drive and Route 378), Mountain Drive South (…

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, it was announced Tuesday morning that the Saucon Valley Compost Center will be open to Hellertown and Lower Saucon residents from 8:30am to 3pm until further notice. Residents still cleaning up from the weekend storm may drop off their yard debris at the facility, which is located at 2011 Springtown Hill Road in Lower Saucon Township. For additional information, contact either the Borough of Hellertown at 610-838-7041 or Lower Saucon Township at 610-865-3291.

UPDATE, Aug. 29, 5:45pm: As of 4pm PPL had two crews on scene, with plans to restore power throughout the area this afternoon and evening. Residents whose power is not restored by tonight are advised to call 1-800-DIAL-PPL (1-800-342-5775) to report the outage.  UPDATE, Aug. 29, 2:30pm: Photos just uploaded to this story reveal the full extent of damage to power lines and transformers along Durham Street in Hellertown. The trees were toppled by Hurricane Irene's high winds Sunday, taking utility poles with them. Patch freelancer and eyewitness to the devastation Cassandra Yorgey, who captured…

A man from Hellertown was killed early Sunday when he lost control of his SUV, struck a guide rail and went down an embankment along the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to a story published on The Morning Call. After going down the embankment, the vehicle reportedly struck a utility pole and ended up on its side. State police believe heavy rain was responsible for the crash that killed Jason Dahms, according to both the Morning Call report and a story published by WNEP. Dahms' death is reportedly one of at least three in the area that have so far been attributed to…

Although a particularly vulnerable block of downtown Hellertown's business district was figuratively smacked by Hurricane Irene, the damage inflicted by the storm "could have been a lot worse," Borough Council President Philip Weber said Sunday afternoon. Weber, who was assisting other Dewey Fire Company volunteers with clean-up efforts in the 600 block of Main Street, pointed to businesses in that block that were briefly inundated when the Silver Creek--which passes underneath Main Street on its way to the Saucon Creek--turned into a raging torrent overnight. Among the businesses affected by…

Editor's Note: Always stay safe when taking photos of an unfolding weather event or disaster. Do not attempt to venture near a flooded waterway on foot, and avoid driving through standing water on roads.

UPDATE, 7pm, Aug. 28: The direct effects of Hurricane Irene have for the most part subsided in the Saucon Valley, although as of 7pm thousands of Lower Saucon PPL customers remain without electricity. Significant flooding occurred earlier along many of the major waterways in Hellertown and Lower Saucon, including the Saucon Creek, the Silver Creek and the Black River. However, as of Sunday evening damage from flooding appears to have been limited in scope. Many basements took on water as a result of the storm, and some buildings in the 600 block of Main Street, Hellertown, suffered flood …

UPDATE, 3pm: Power is being restored in much of Hellertown, however outages remain spotty, and with the forecast for continued high winds throughout the day there may be more isolated outages occurring throughout the Saucon Valley. At around 2pm, power appeared to have been restored to much of Hellertown's downtown business district and traffic signals were functional once again. In the wake of Hurricane Irene, residents of Hellertown and Lower Saucon are coming out to take stock of the damage inflicted overnight. In Hellertown, as of 12:30pm, flooding on the Saucon Creek at Walnut Street …

Is the storm raging in your part of the Saucon Valley? Have you already witnessed wind damage in your neighborhood? Are waters rising near your home? Upload YOUR photos of Hurricane Irene's ongoing impact and help your neighbors and fellow Patch readers witness first-hand the effects of this historic weather event.

Have you witnessed flooding occuring locally? Do you know of an area where the power is out? Has a tree fallen, closing a roadway? Do you have a storm-related piece of information you believe the community should know about, such as an event cancellation or postponement? SUNDAY, 7:15am: At 2:15am reader Andrew Wilt reported that flooding was occurring at Polk Valley Road and Route 412, and that Route 412/Main Street was blocked by emergency crews just south of the McDonald's. "Water is coming down Springtown Hill Road and Route 412 from the Giant at a brisk pace and has begun to cross from …

Forecasters say tropical storm conditions tonight and Sunday could bring wind gusts of 60 mph. So, what might that wind feel like? The Beaufort Scale is used to measure wind speed. The scale uses a 1 through 12 rating for wind ranging from “calm” to “hurricane” force. Here are some of the ratings: Near Gale (32-38 mph) - Whole trees in motion, inconvenient to walk. Gale (39-46 mph) - Difficult to walk against wind. Twigs and small branches blown off trees. Strong Gale (47-54 mph) - Minor structural damage may occur (shingles blown off roofs). Storm (55-63 mph) - Trees uprooted, structural …

Herd animals like bison and elk have an instinct for knowing when to hunker down, which is one reason the Lehigh Valley Zoo isn’t shipping the animals elsewhere to ride out the coming storm. Richard Rosevear, the zoo’s general curator, said he expects the bison and elk around the facility’s perimeter to bed down and stay low to the ground if high winds and heavy rains hit this weekend as expected. “They know it’s coming long before we do,” he said. “They can detect changes in barometric pressure.” The bigger concern is that a hurricane could knock down trees that would put a hole in the chain…

Severe weather can create havoc in a community. Power outages, service interruptions and slowed emergency response times are more than just inconvenient--they can present real risks. That's why emergency management officials recommend keeping an emergency preparedness kit on hand. A few easily obtainable items--many of which you probably already have at home--can make all the difference in the aftermath of a severe storm. Here's what officials recommend having in your kit: A three-day supply of water, with one gallon per day per person A three-day supply of nonperishable food A manual can …

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Are your trees ready for a serious storm? Routine maintenance is the best way to keep your trees in top shape. But if your trees have not received preventive care, or you are concerned about the structural health of your trees, there are still some actions to take before Irene shows up. It is probably too late to get an arborist out to your property, meaning you will just have to go outside and look for yourself. If you notice any defects or problems, I suggest taking a picture of the tree and keeping people and objects away from the tree while the storm is active. It is also a good idea to …

With Hurricane Irene almost certain to impact the Lehigh Valley this weekend, the need for up-to-the minute information is even more important. At Patch, we will be working around-the-clock to cover the storm, but as with all of our reporting, the more interaction we get from users the more comprehensive our coverage will be. Hellertown-Lower Saucon Patch is as much your site as it is ours.Here’s how you can use Patch to help paint the local picture of the event.1. Get the news. When we know about storm-related news, so will you. From important official announcements, to updates on damage, …

Hurricane Irene is moving closer to the Mid-Atlantic region, and as it does, local government officials are making preparations. Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Kichline said in an email Thursday that the borough "has taken the usual precautions, including inspection of inlets and outfalls along the creeks." Records kept in the basement storage area of Borough Hall have been moved upstairs, and if necessary, the borough will initiate its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) under the direction of Chris Sherer, Kichline said. "Everyone is on standby," she added. In Lower Saucon, Township Manager …