Berks DES

Berks DES This is the page for the Berks County Department of Emergency Services. This page is not monitored 24x7. Call 9-1-1. Look for the BerksAlert logo.

Please check our website for additional information about the department www.berksdes.com It should never be used for the reporting of emergencies. While the page is sometimes used to make emergent information known to our followers, it is an inconsistent means of receiving this information and is not a substitute for awareness of the Emergency Alert System, NOAA weather radios, and other instant

alerting services that deliver civil alerting notifications to mobile devices and email. Please consider signing up for free BerksAlert notifications at our webpage.

Monday afternoon, June 1, at 2pm, and at numerous intervals throughout the day on Tuesday June 2, Limerick Clean Energy ...
05/28/2026

Monday afternoon, June 1, at 2pm, and at numerous intervals throughout the day on Tuesday June 2, Limerick Clean Energy Center (nuclear power plant) will conduct a full volume test of its siren warning system inclusive of areas of SE Berks County. There is no cause for alarm and no action needs to be taken.

In an actual emergency, the sounding of these sirens is NOT A SIGNAL TO EVACUATE. It is a signal to tune TV/or radio to an Emergency Alert System provider and be attentive for directions from public safety authorities.

More information on preparedness related to the power plant for Berks County residents:

https://www.berkspa.gov/departments/emergency-services/emergency-management-branch/%E2%80%8Blimerick-generating-station-emergency-preparedness

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on t...
05/21/2026

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on the roads, Berks DES is going to be participating in a program with PennDOT where we receive weekly plans about local roadwork. Our intent is to share this information on social media so that followers have advance visibility on the plans and can (hopefully) adjust travel times or routes to avoid the affected areas when practical.

A few things to remember...
1. This is PLANNED work. Things can change, especially with weather.
2. We get this information from PennDOT. We have no details beyond what is posted.
3. This covers work inside Berks. Work in neighboring counties could also have impacts inside Berks.

Planned work through 6/3 with some bonus long-lead stuff in June.

Consider following PA's 511 system:
www.511pa.com

Berks DES is excited to acknowledge one of our newest telecommunicators, Justin Hill. Even though he has only been with...
05/09/2026

Berks DES is excited to acknowledge one of our newest telecommunicators, Justin Hill. Even though he has only been with us for a bit over a year, Justin is already establishing some real bona fides in his craft.

In January, he provided telephone assistance to a mother delivering a baby and was able to help ensure a safe delivery prior to the arrival of EMS.

Today, he received a visit from a family who called 9-1-1 in February when their child was found unresponsive and not breathing. Justin's pre-arrival instructions to the family, coupled with the emergency response and subsequent care, were instrumental in a positive outcome for the child. The family also brought treats for Justin's co-workers.

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on t...
05/08/2026

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on the roads, Berks DES is going to be participating in a program with PennDOT where we receive weekly plans about local roadwork. Our intent is to share this information on social media so that followers have advance visibility on the plans and can (hopefully) adjust travel times or routes to avoid the affected areas when practical.

A few things to remember...

1. This is PLANNED work. Things can change, especially with weather.
2. We get this information from PennDOT. We have no details beyond what is posted.
3. This covers work inside Berks. Work in neighboring counties could also have impacts inside Berks.

Planned work through 5/15 with some bonus long-lead stuff in June.

Consider following PA's 511 system:
www.511pa.com

Saying goodbye to a manager always means saying welcome to another member of the team who has stepped up for the opportu...
05/01/2026

Saying goodbye to a manager always means saying welcome to another member of the team who has stepped up for the opportunity to join the management team. In this vein, as we say goodbye and thank you to Barry Katzin, we say congratulations and welcome aboard to Chris Stoudt.

Chris is an emergency services legacy, following a long line of family members serving his community. In addition to working as a fully qualified TC/Radio Operator at DES for over 15 years, Chris is a volunteer firefighter in his home community. We look forward to his experience on both sides of that radio along with his tell it like it is approach contributing to our operation. The folks he will be leading on the overnights are fortunate to have a skilled and knowledgeable person at the helm, and we are excited for big things to come from his promotion.

If you see Chris, please help us congratulate him on this well-earned move.

Today was a bittersweet day for the Berks DES team. One of our Watch Officers, Barry Katzin, completed his last shift a...
05/01/2026

Today was a bittersweet day for the Berks DES team. One of our Watch Officers, Barry Katzin, completed his last shift after a 25+ year career with Berks County. Barry managed a shift in our 9-1-1 Communications Center (last assigned to the daylight tour) and among his management tasks, was a recognizable voice on the radio, providing emergency response coordination along with his shiftmates in the Center.

Barry was not just a skilled telecommunciator and manager. He is also a firefighter/Fire Marshal in his home community and a certified EMS provider. This is a body of experience that is bordering on irreplaceable, and there is no question we will be less without him.

However, we celebrate his retirement, and we are happy he will be moving to a new opportunity that will have him home with Michele on holidays (OK, maybe not the 4th of July - IYKYK) and only working weekends when it is something he wants to do! We are also glad to know he will still be an emergency responder, and we will get to talk to him in the other direction on the radio.

If you know Barry, please congratulate him on this milestone. If you are an emergency responder who has benefitted from Barry's experience behind the mic, please take a minute to thank him for his service over these many years.

Congratulations Barry!

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on t...
04/30/2026

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on the roads, Berks DES is going to be participating in a program with PennDOT where we receive weekly plans about local roadwork. Our intent is to share this information on social media so that followers have advance visibility on the plans and can (hopefully) adjust travel times or routes to avoid the affected areas when practical.

A few things to remember...
1. This is PLANNED work. Things can change, especially with weather.
2. We get this information from PennDOT. We have no details beyond what is posted.
3. This covers work inside Berks. Work in neighboring counties could also have impacts inside Berks.
Planned work through 5/8.
Consider following PA's 511 system:
www.511pa.com

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on t...
04/23/2026

Recognizing the significant impact congestion and traffic delays have on individuals and those involved in commerce on the roads, Berks DES is going to be participating in a program with PennDOT where we receive weekly plans about local roadwork. Our intent is to share this information on social media so that followers have advance visibility on the plans and can (hopefully) adjust travel times or routes to avoid the affected areas when practical.

A few things to remember...

1. This is PLANNED work. Things can change, especially with weather.
2. We get this information from PennDOT. We have no details beyond what is posted.
3. This covers work inside Berks. Work in neighboring counties could also have impacts inside Berks.
Planned work through 5/1.

Consider following PA's 511 system:
www.511pa.com

04/20/2026

The 2026 NPSTC week is in the rearview mirror. We would like to offer thanks to all the folks who took the time to recognize our communications team for their continuous service to the community. While those written and verbal thank yous mean the world to the team, we would like to offer some special thanks to the following individuals/organizations that went a step above and added some special treats with their thanks!

LVHN MedEvac
Motorola Solutions - Account Executive Phil Kearney
Topton Fire Co #1
Brecknock Township Police Chief Grunzig
Western Berks Ambulance Association
Berks County Sheriff’s Office
- Bill Gannon

Address

2561 Bernville Road
Reading, PA
19605

Telephone

+16103744800

Website

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