Pittsburgh Public Safety Boss Grilled Over `Snowmageddon`
PITTSBURGH --
Public Safety Director Michael Huss faced some public questioning Monday about how the city handled the February snowstorms that dumped more than 20 inches on Pittsburgh and blocked roads and services for days.
City Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak, who heads the
task force on emergency operations and snow preparedness
, said it took about six phone calls and ultimately a subpoena before Huss agreed to talk.
Video:
Watch Bob Mayo's Report
Huss testified Monday that the National Weather Service told the city on Friday, Feb. 5 -- before the storm started later in the day -- that Pittsburgh would get 8 inches of snow over three days.
But published reports on Thursday -- one day before the storm -- quoted the NWS forecast of up to 6 to 12 inches in 24 hours.
"So it just seems to me that even with 8 inches of snow -- I mean, that wasn't a concern?" Rudiak asked.
"It's always a concern, and we always monitor it," Huss said. "But I think 8 inches of snow would have been over 48 hours. I'm sure it would have had a lot less impact on our city than what we got."
"I mean -- and even
when the mayor declared the war on snow
(in 2008), I think that was 5.6 inches over two days," Rudiak said.
Monday's hearing was not a forum to beat up city officials over the snow response, Rudiak said. Rather, it was an opportunity to talk about mistakes that were made and how to do a better job in the future.
"The mayor's entire staff and all the directors and chiefs are looking at, nationwide, what's the best practices?" Huss told reporters after the hearing.
"The mayor said -- back in 2008 -- the city was going to look at best practices of other cities. Whatever became of that?" Channel 4 Action News' Bob Mayo asked.
"Well, I know director (Rob) Kaczorowski (of the city's public works department) made some changes," Huss said.
Rudiak said the council has not received updates on the city's emergency management plan.
"To this date in the year 2010, with two new council members, new staff members, and a whole host of new issues, City Council staff still does not have direct orders on how to proceed with the public's health, safety, and welfare in mind when faced with an emergency," she said. "These things, which are required in our city’s emergency management plan, we still are not doing."
Mayo reported that the task force may be back in council chambers with some preliminary findings within a couple of weeks.
"She's attacked, she's done exactly -- cameras are on and we'll be on the news and they've gotten exactly what they wanted out of this," Councilman Ricky Burgess said. "But at the end of the day, did this help our city?"
The snowstorm also saw the death of Curtis Mitchell, a Hazelwood man who was having heart problems. Paramedics didn't make it to Mitchell's house on a snow-covered street, despite repeated calls to 911. One paramedic was fired and three others were suspended following an internal city investigation.
Lawyers for Mitchell's family were present on Monday and listened to Huss' testimony. They said a lawsuit over Mitchell's death has been drafted but not yet filed.
