diff --git a/scl.py b/scl.py
index c8d002e..8fcb2b2 100644
--- a/scl.py
+++ b/scl.py
@@ -421,6 +421,8 @@ with Session(engine) as session:
             print("Existing record not found")
             post_id = None
             map_media_post_id = None
+            neighborhood = None
+            city = None
             if not event_class["is_postable"]:
                 print(
                     "Outage is {} considered postable, will not post".format(
@@ -438,13 +440,11 @@ with Session(engine) as session:
                 post_id = initial_post_result["post_id"]
                 map_media_post_id = initial_post_result["map_media_post_id"]
 
-                neighborhood = str()
                 try:
                     neighborhood = initial_post_result["neighborhood"]
                 except KeyError:
                     pass
 
-                city = str()
                 try:
                     city = initial_post_result["city"]
                 except KeyError: