PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia announced that all City offices will be closed to the public today, Thursday, September 2 due to the continued impact of yesterday’s storm and the ongoing flooding hazard.
Flood conditions around rivers and waterways are expected to continue throughout the day. The region will see historic flooding on the Schuylkill River along with other waterways in the city. If you live in a flood-prone area and are experiencing flooding, please shelter-in-place until waters recede and it becomes safe to leave your home.
“This storm brought historic levels of rain to Southeastern Pennsylvania,” said Managing Director Tumar Alexander. “If you live in a flood-prone area and are experiencing flooding, please shelter-in-place until waters recede and it becomes safe to leave your home. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.”
The City will be operating essential services only. Employees who can work remotely should check with their supervisor and do so.
The First Judicial District of Philadelphia also announced that Philadelphia courts will be closed today.
People can still access resources online through the City’s website, phila.gov.
Road Closures: Numerous roads are closed this morning, including heavily travelled portions of I-676, I-76, and Kelly Drive.
Call Centers Open: The Philly 311 Call Center will remain open during normal business hours on Thursday (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) to take calls for non-emergencies.
SEPTA will post real-time travel updates at septa.org and @SEPTA on Twitter. Riders should expect service disruptions and delays to continue through the day. For those who have to travel, the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines are the best options and provide access to essential services throughout the City.
Sanitation & Recycling Collections: Residents should continue to set materials out on their regular collection day. Trash and recycling collections will continue in areas unaffected by flooding. Residents should expect delays in areas where roads are impacted by flooding.
Information About Flooding Response & Resources: Residents and businesses can find information about flooding response and resources on the City’s Flood Management Program page, including resources for areas impacted by flooding; this is available online here. Once waters recede, business and homeowners should take photos of any storm or flood damage. If it is safe to do so, take photos before any repairs are made.
The Philadelphia Water Department’s customer contact center (215-685-6300) will be open. If a Water customer’s property experiences flooding, we ask that they complete the City’s Flood Report Survey to provide us with information that can help the City plan for the future.
School District of Philadelphia: The School District of Philadelphia announced a two-hour delay. Families, media and the public are urged to monitor the District website at philasd.org or updated information.
Stay Informed:
- Tune to local news for weather updates.
- Sign up for emergency alerts and weather updates from ReadyPhiladelphia at www.phila.gov/ready.
- For more weather tips, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management online at www.phila.gov/ready.
- For official updates from the City, follow @PhilaOEM on Twitter or Facebook.
- Other City Twitter accounts to follow for information: @PhiladelphiaGov, @Philly311 and @PhilaStreets.