PENNSYLVANIA, USA — The sounds of rakes and shovels could be heard throughout the region on Tuesday.
In Harrisburg, workers from both the city's Public Works Department and Capital Region Water were out clearing storm drain inlets, ahead of the first round of rain this week.
“Leaves, debris, tend to cover the inlets in the city so if we don’t clean them, they’ll flood easier," explained John Watson, operations manager for the City of Harrisburg's Public Works Department. "If we clean them, the water will drain.”
Heavy rain and storms are expected to hit the area late Tuesday afternoon into the evening.
Crews were doing the same work in the City of Lancaster.
“We’re taking every precaution we can to be prepared," said Chris DeLong, emergency management coordinator for the City of Lancaster.
DeLong is also reminding drivers to avoid areas that flood easily throughout the city, like the Plum Street underpass.
“Even in the early phases of rain because it does accumulate quickly and turn around don’t drown," he said.
Even after Tuesday’s rain, the work won't stop.
Remnants of Hurricane Debby are expected to hit our region by the end of the week.
“Still too early to say what those effects will look like but we are early in the stages of planning and we have enough time to get prepared," said DeLong. "We’ll be ready.”
“Our department will be cleaning inlets over the next 48 hours so we’re going to keep doing this today, tomorrow and into Friday," said Watson.
Homeowners are encouraged to keep an eye on their gutters throughout the week and make sure they’re clear.