County Begins Preparations for Threat of Hurricane Irene

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

That was the theme echoed by Anne Arundel County representatives who attended a meeting Thursday afternoon at the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in Glen Burnie to discuss the threat of Hurricane Irene. Gov. Martin O'Malley has declared a State of Emergency for Maryland.

“It’s still early to tell what this thing is going to do,” said OEM Capt. Eric Hodge. “But we need to plan for the worst.”

Representatives from 10 county agencies briefed County Executive John R. Leopold on what had been done to prepare for potential fallout from Hurricane Irene and what decisions would be made if the forecast worsened.

As of 8:18 a.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) placed Anne Arundel County under flash flood watch from noon until the evening. According to NWS, widespread rain of one to two inches is expected along the I-95 corridor through the evening with a band of heavier rainfall possibly producing accumulation of more than two inches.

All agencies represented at the briefing—including the fire, police and public works departments—said staff was on standby to assist with any emergencies that occur as a result of the hurricane.

Hodge said the emergency generator was being transported to today in case it is determined that the school will need to serve as a shelter for area residents.

Marjorie Bennett, program manager with the Department of Social Services, said that tomorrow the agency would look at the possibility of opening another shelter at in Glen Burnie if they determined it was necessary. She said she didn’t expect a decision to be made sooner than Saturday, depending on the weather.

Hodge didn’t rule out the possibility of evacuating parts of the county if necessary.

“The county can’t order an evacuation. The state can. But we may recommend evacuating along the coastal communities,” he said.

Over the next few days, agencies said they plan to communicate information to residents through a variety of services including phone calls, emails and text messages.

“We need to tell communities some of the things they need to do,” Leopold said. “I understand that the track of the hurricane is off to the east of us, but, as we’ve seen, that can shift.”

Karen Sank with OEM reminds residents to make sure to have their three-day emergency supply kit ready.

"Listen to local radio and TV stations for information and make plans to leave the area now if they feel they need to," she said in an email sent to Patch.

Sank also urges residents to check on their neighbors, especially the eldery or people who are more vulnerable. Sank said residents also should check their neighborhood for potential resources such as which neighbors have a generator and if anyone is a doctor, nurse or EMT.

OEM will release information to the public so residents should keep an eye on their Facebook page (if they are able to access the Internet).

"The main thing is not to panic," Sank said.

Important Notes for Residents

Fire Department

Once the rain hits, fire officials urged residents that have to travel to avoid standing water.

“Follow road closures,” said Fire Department Chief John Scholz, adding that it’s difficult to get to stranded motorists.

Scholz also urged residents to leave their generators outside. He noted that many are fearful of their generators being stolen, but warned that bringing them inside causes issues with high levels of carbon monoxide.

Police Department

Four additional police officers are being added to each district in the county, said Police Lt. Michael Brothers.

“We have a wait-and-see mentality,” he said, adding that their main focus will be dealing with a potential evacuation.

Department of Public Works

About 125 Department of Public Works (DPW) staff members will be on standby Saturday and ready to work if necessary.

Leopold reminded people in the room during the press conference that the amount of rainfall in the county over the past few weeks has made the ground soft, increasing the likelihood of trees falling.

According to Robert Loomis, assistant director for DPW, if a tree falls on an owner’s property, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to remove the tree. But if a tree falls into the road, DPW can assist.

“If the tree originated from private property and falls into the road, [DPW] will push the tree to clear the roadway,” said Greg Africa, deputy director of DPW for highways.

Department of Aging and Disabilities

All county-affiliated senior centers, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have been briefed and are prepared to implement emergency actions, said Department of Aging and Disabilities (DoAD) spokeswoman Mary Felter.

There will be about 24 drivers on call for DoAD over the weekend to help transport the elderly and people with disabilities if necessary.