July 19, 2016

Philadelphia has its place in history: from the birthplace of America to events that have shaped the course of the nation. The City is set to take its place in history once again as the site of the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

The nomination of the Democratic presidential candidate for the November election will take place in South Philadelphia the week of July 24th. But even if you are not within the walls of the Wells Fargo Center, you can still take part in history.

The Office of Emergency Management put together a comprehensive list of information to help keep you safe and informed as you experience the DNC first-hand.

DNC Related Websites

  • The City of Philadelphia created an all-encompassing website  for visitors and residents. From traffic, city service updates, things to see and do, and places to eat, the site details ways the public can participate in convention related activities. The site offers sections on; FAQ’s, demonstration applications, road closures, and tourism information such as #DNCdeals for DNC related deals on food, drink, attractions and retail.
  • Stop by Visit Philadelphia’s site and visit their DNC page to see what the city and surrounding counties have to offer.
  • The official tourism website for the State of Pennsylvania, visitpa.com, also created a special page for things to do and see during the DNC.

ReadyDNC

  • To be aware of events surrounding the DNC, the Office of Emergency Management is encouraging people to sign up for the City’s mass notification system, ReadyPhiladelphia.  A ReadyDNC Daily Digest will be published through ReadyPhiladelphia. It will include information on; weather, traffic, public safety, public gathering and marches that affect traffic, DNC related public events, and visitor information.

Public Safety

  • “See Something, Say Something.” Contact Philadelphia Police if you see suspicious activity. Dial the City’s emergency number 9-1-1.
  • An Excessive Heat Watch was issued by the National Weather Service Mount Holly beginning Saturday, July 23rd through Monday, July 25th. The Watch is due to dangerous Heat Value Indexes pushing temperatures into triple digits. There is a specific warning by the NWS for “visitors not acclimated to the previous heat waves in our region this summer.”   Severe storms are also forecast. To receive weather alerts to your phone through text or email, sign up for ReadyPhiladelphia.

General Information

  • 311, the City’s non-emergency number, will have extended hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m, July 25th through July 28th. Contact them on Twitter, through their app or by dialing 3-1-1.

Travel

  • SEPTA will have additional service on its Broad Street Line subway system during the DNC. Visit Septa’s website for projected detours, follow them on Twitter or sign up for delay and service disruption alerts through ReadyPhiladelphia.
  • For highway travel information, visit PennDot’s DNC website. The site has information for state highways within and surrounding Philadelphia, including I-95, I-76 Schuylkill Expressway, I-676, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. PennDot’s site also contains information on planned bans and restrictions for trucks and street closures around the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia for the DNC.
  • The Philadelphia Parking Authority created a guide for parking (available in Spanish) during the DNC and also has information on parking restrictions.

Social Media

 

 

A simple yet essential way to be prepared is to stay informed. Get emergency alerts from OEM’s ReadyPhiladelphia program sent to your phone or email to keep you informed prior to and during an emergency.

Look for PhilaOEM on Twitter and Facebook.