Mayor Peduto Reassures City With Winter Storm Looming

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Mayor Bill Peduto, flanked by his Public Works Department team, came out Friday evening to reassure the City of Pittsburgh that they're ready for the coming winter storm.

"Just want to let the people of Pittsburgh know, and those who do business within the city's borders, that Public Works crews will be out," said Mayor Peduto.

Four years ago, the city was caught off guard by a storm that dropped two feet of snow, knocked out power and paralyzed the city.

It took weeks to clear even the main roads.

Mayor Peduto said he doesn't want a repeat.

"We're going to have more equipment on the streets than we've ever had in the past," said Mayor Peduto. "That does include taking vehicles out of parks, tractors and others and putting plows on them."

Perhaps the biggest travesty of the Snowmagedden storm was the death of Curtis Mitchell.

Mitchell's girlfriend called 911 ten times in a 30-hour period. Paramedics never got closer than a quarter mile away.

A fire truck finally reached Mitchell's home after he died.

Mayor Peduto says Public Works and Public Safety will work together to use plows and four-wheel drive vehicles on emergency calls.

"Public safety is our number one concern. Making sure our emergency vehicles have access to where they need to go," said Mayor Peduto. "There's a strong coordination between Public Works and Public Safety to make sure that happens."

RELATED LINKS:
Meteorologists Working To Decipher Path Of Winter Storm (2/28/14)
City, Westmoreland Co. Preparing For Worst With Incoming Storm (2/28/14)
Latest Weather Alerts
More Reports by Paul Martino

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