Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services

06/10/2026

Building heat and humidity will bring an increased risk for heat-related illnesses🥵 on Thursday and Friday. Daily showers and storms⛈️ are expected in the afternoon and evening, through Friday night. Instances of flash flooding🌊 are possible, in locations that receive multiple rounds of thunderstorms over a short period of time.

To stay safe in the heat, limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade, and stay hydrated.

Please ensure you have multiple ways of receiving weather alerts.📲📺📻

For additional heat safety tips: https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat
For the latest forecast: https://www.weather.gov/ctp

06/05/2026

Severe thunderstorms (level 2 of 5)⛈️ are expected to impact the region Saturday afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts🌬️ and large hail☄️ will be the primary hazards for these storms. When thunder roars, go indoors!

For the latest forecast information: https://www.weather.gov/ctp

As always, please ensure you have multiple ways of receiving weather alerts. 📲📺📻

05/12/2026

This past weekend, a full-scale exercise was held at Palmyra Area High School, in what was the culmination of two years of planning. The active assailant exercise was the work of Deputy Director Verna and a small planning committee. The exercise was designed to test first responders across Lebanon County and the region, to see how they respond and identify areas where improvements can be made. The ultimate goal being to learn how we can better serve our communities.

LCDES would like to thank all first responders, the faculty at Palmyra Area School District, the South Central Taskforce, and the student actors from the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center’s Law Enforcement Program for their participation in the exercise.

Follow the link below to learn more about the exercise, planning process, and first response agencies involved in this exercise.

Local first responder agencies from Lebanon and western Dauphin counties conducted an active shooter drill at Palmyra Area High School on Saturday to enhance emergency preparedness.

05/05/2026

It’s Hurricane Preparedness Week!🌊🌀 We are not strangers to tropical systems here in Central PA. Understanding forecast information is an important part in preparing for hurricane season every year.

- Have trusted sources for storm information. Use the official National Hurricane Center for the latest forecast information. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- Know the difference between Watch and Warning. Generally, a Watch means impacts are possible; a Warning means impacts are expected or happening.
- Do not focus on a specific storm category. All tropical systems can bring life-threatening impacts to the region.
- The storm’s scale only tells us about the strength of the winds near the center of the storm.
- Impacts from tropical systems can be felt far from the storm’s center, well inland, and outside the forecast cone. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/cone_usage.php

04/18/2026

There are still seats remaining in our two sessions of Autism Awareness for First Responders! This training will be held on Monday, April 20th from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm.
The training is open to public safety professionals and first responders of all disciplines. Please use the links below to register.

2pm Session: https://www.lcdes.org/training/autism-awareness-for-first-responders-afternoon-session/

6pm Session: https://www.lcdes.org/training/autism-awareness-for-first-responders-evening-session/

04/14/2026

This week we recognize the voices behind the line—the calm in chaos, the unseen heroes who answer every call with courage and compassion.

Thank you to all Lebanon County 911 Dispatchers for being the first first responders, for guiding people through their darkest moments, and for never hesitating when it matters most. Your strength, patience, and dedication do not go unnoticed.

We appreciate you today and every day.

04/02/2026

April is National Acceptance Month and today is World Autism Awareness Day. In recognition of this, LCDES is hosting two sessions of Autism Awareness for First Responders. The training will be held on Monday, April 20th from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm.
The training is open to public safety professionals and first responders of all disciplines. Please use the links below to register.

2pm Session: https://www.lcdes.org/training/autism-awareness-for-first-responders-afternoon-session/

6pm Session: https://www.lcdes.org/training/autism-awareness-for-first-responders-evening-session/

03/16/2026

Multiple rounds of storms (level 3 of 5)⛈️ are expected to impact the area this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front. Widespread damaging winds🌬️ are possible, as well as a few tornadoes🌪️.

❗️If a Tornado Warning is issued, make sure you know where to go❗️:
-In a home or a building, move to a pre-designated shelter, preferably the basement or the lowest floor of your home.
-If you are in a mobile home: Immediately move to a substantial shelter.
-If you are on the road, do not seek refuge in a vehicle, outside, or under an overpass.

Please be weather aware👀 today and ensure you have multiple ways of receiving weather alerts! 📲📺📻

03/15/2026

Severe thunderstorms (level 3 of 5)⛈️ will impact much of the east coast tomorrow afternoon, Monday March 16th. This system will be capable of producing very strong winds (>70mph)🌬️, tornadoes (as strong as EF2)🌪️, hail☄️, and heavy rain🌊. Confidence is high in this system producing strong, damaging winds.

❗️We have not seen a level 3 day for storms since August 6, 2024❗️. Please take this severe weather threat seriously. Please ensure you have multiple ways of receiving severe weather alerts!📲📺📻

03/11/2026

Multiple rounds of storms (level 2 of 5)⛈️ are expected to cross region today. Damaging winds🌬️ and a few tornadoes🌪️ are the primary threats. Tornadoes could be as strong as EF-2 intensity. The window for severe storms will be from 2pm to 10pm.

Please ensure you have multiple ways of receiving weather notifications! 📲📺📻