SEPTA to cease all operations at 12:30 a.m. Sunday

PHILADELPHIA - August 26, 2011 (WPVI) -- Concern about the expected high winds, heavy rain and likely flooding from Hurricane Irene led to a declaration of emergency by the governor of Pennsylvania and the decision to cease operations early Sunday at SEPTA, the mass transit provider for Philadelphia and four counties.

RELATED: Get the latest track of Irene with the 6abc.com Hurricane Tracker.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said Friday that the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, which carried 334 million passengers from June 2010 to June 2011, will cease all operations at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday.

The agency offers bus, trolley, rail and regional rail services in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The move came after Gov. Tom Corbett - looking to the inclement weather expected this weekend - declared a state of emergency and urged people to be ready and prepared for the inclement weather.

Due to Hurricane Irene, all sites managed by Independence National Historical Park will close at 5:00 p.m. Saturday and re-open Monday.

August is already the wettest month on record in Philadelphia, with more than 13½ inches of precipitation. The previous record was set in September 1999, largely thanks to Hurricane Floyd.

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RELATED: How to prepare for Hurricane Irene

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hurricanes and tropical storms, severe weather, pennsylvania, philadelphia, mayor michael nutter, local/state

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