MD Power Restored After Storms Pound State

Maryland was hit by damaging winds and heavy rain Thursday, knocking out power to thousands. As of 9 a.m. Friday, about 21,000 utility customers across the state were without electricity, according to the tracking site PowerOutage.US.

By 7 p.m. the number of outages was done to just under 7,000.

The most outages were in Anne Arundel County with about 9,611; followed by 3,976 outages in Prince George's County and 3,747 outages in Montgomery County.

Utility companies aim to have a majority of customers back online by Friday evening, with full restoration by Saturday night.

BGE expects to restore service to 80% of customers by 4 p.m. on Friday, June 20, and the vast majority of customers by 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, the utility said on its website.

"At this time crews are assessing damage while restoring service and will update restoration times as they become available," Pepco said. "Safety is our top priority. Please stay away from downed power lines and other equipment and report it to us immediately. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

There are no storms in the forecast to aggravate the power issues. Instead, conditions are expected to be clear through the weekend but the heat will send temperatures soaring.

The National Weather Service predicts high temps of 90 degrees on Friday, 95 on Saturday, and 100 to 102 degrees Sunday through Tuesday.

Here's how to track outages, report downed lines and keep your electronics safe.

BG&E: Residents can check Baltimore Gas & Electric's outage map after the storm to see if there are widespread outages. If you experience a power outage or need to report a downed wire, call 877-778-2222. BGE asks all customers to report their outage.

Outages may also be reported online, by texting OUT to MYBGE (69243), and via BGE’s mobile app. BGE crews work as safely and quickly as possible to restore power.

PEPCO: The utility serves much of Prince George's and Montgomery counties, it asks customers who see a downed wire to report it at 1-877-737-2662. For more information and outage details, use the self-service app or visit Pepco.com. Do not touch or try to remove the downed lines and consider all downed lines as energized and extremely dangerous.

Delmarva Power: Harford County customers can report an outage, check an outage status, and track your outage at Experiencing an Outage | Pepco - An Exelon Company.

Tips During Power Outages

During a power outage, the state recommends:

• Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer.
• Maintain food supplies that do not require refrigeration.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators, camp stoves, or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows. Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.
• Check on your neighbors. Older adults and young children are especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
• Go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
• Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics. Power may return with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can cause damage.
• Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
• If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. If a life depends on refrigerated drugs, consult a doctor or pharmacist and use medicine only until a new supply is available

To prepare for power outages:

• Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and gas tanks full
• Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
• Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.
• Sign up for local alerts and warning systems. Monitor weather reports.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home.
• Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
• Review the supplies that are available in case of a power outage. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water.
• Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.

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