Salisbury, Steele, Gaydos to introduce bill that would strengthen state legislative storm preparation services for residents
Would mandate PEMA alerts, direct communications line for state legislative offices
Rep. Abigail Salisbury, Rep. Mandy Steele June 11, 2025 | 6:15 AM
HARRISBURG, June 11 – In the wake of the April 29 storm that left 400,000 western Pennsylvania residents without power, state Reps. Abigail Salisbury and Mandy Steele, both D-Allegheny, and state Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny, will soon introduce legislation that would give state legislative offices greater ability to help residents prepare for weather emergencies.
Salisbury said the bill – which would require the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to share weather emergency alerts with state legislative offices and create a direct channel of communication with them – would address a gap in the information network that leaves state offices without timely notification and, consequently, less able to assist their communities.
“Currently, when a major storm threatens, PEMA sends alerts to county emergency management agencies, which in turn notify local officials,” Salisbury said. “As a result, when the April 29 storm hit, county officials had advance notice and were able to help residents prepare. Unfortunately, our state legislative offices do not receive these notices from PEMA, which hinders our ability to provide this critical assistance.
“Our bill would remedy this by mandating that PEMA provide state legislative offices with the same alerts they send county agencies, as well as a direct communication channel for our offices to contact the agency during weather emergencies. It’s our job to connect the community with vital information and services, and that includes helping residents and small business know when a weather emergency is coming and how to best prepare. Our bill would give our state legislative offices the ability to do that.”
Steele said, “Thousands of my constituents were without power for an extended period as a result of the April 29 storm. Some of them sick, seniors, or dependent on electricity to power medical devices. It’s our job as Representatives to serve the community and to connect them to resources and being able to respond to PEMA emergencies will allow us to be able to support our constituents immediately in emergency situations.”
Gaydos said, “This legislation ensures our offices are part of the emergency network, ready to act when Pennsylvanians need us most. It closes a preventable gap in communication and helps save lives and property during severe weather. When every second counts, being prepared makes all the difference.”
The lawmakers have introduced a co-sponsorship memorandum and are currently gathering support for the bill.