Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management MaryAnn Tierney reports that the Philadelphia Mobile Command Post will activate at 6:30 a.m. today to coordinate City services related to Amtrak’s implosion of the Penn Coach Yard Boiler House Chimney Implosion. Representatives from the following agencies will be represented in or coordinate services through the Mobile Command Post: Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments, Risk Management, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Management, Amtrak, SEPTA, Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia Gas Works, and the Cira Center.
Health Commissioner Donald F. Schwarz advises residents to protect themselves from possible harm during this morning’s implosion of the Penn Coach Yard Boiler House Chimney, located adjacent to the Northwest part of 30th Street Station. The implosion is scheduled to take place at 7:45 AM.
Commissioner Schwarz said, “Watching an implosion can be hazardous. The implosion will create a significant amount of dust that may be carried by air currents over long distances. While the dust is nontoxic, it can cause respiratory irritation in anyone and other more serious health effects in people with lung conditions like asthma.”
Most of the dust from the implosion is expected to remain on SEPTA and AMTRAK property so residents in the area will not be required to evacuate or “shelter-in-place” during the implosion and post-implosion cleaning. Traffic will be kept off of the 3000 block of J.F.K. Boulevard, 2900 block of Arch Street, and from leaving the parking area of 30th Street Station during the time of the implosion.
The health department advises all citizens to stay away from the area as a precaution. Those who are outdoors should move away from the dust cloud should it come in their direction. Officials involved in the implosion will be equipped with dust masks for their protection. Anyone who must be in the area should wear a general-purpose mask of the kind available at most home improvement stores.
To learn more about the health department’s implosion guidelines, visit the Division of Air Management Services’ webpage at http://www.phila.gov/health/units/AMS/index.html.
The general public is encouraged to avoid the area during the implosion the morning of Sunday, November 15. In addition to the safety zone around the implosion site, during the actual event, there will be some street closures around 30th Street Station as well as a brief (approximately 15 minute) closing of I-76. In addition, the parking garage at the Cira Centre will be closed before, during and immediately after the implosion. There will be no effect on train service.
