MDEM Newsroom - Page 45 MDEM Newsroom
Governor’s 2011 National Preparedness Month Proclamation
September 14th, 2011You can download the 2011 National Preparedness Month proclamation here:
Gov_npm_proclamation2011.pdf (894.41 kb)
As Susquehanna River Recedes Evacuees are Preparing to Return Home
September 10th, 2011MEMA Provides Safety Tips for Residents Returning Home
Reisterstown, Maryland (September 10, 2011) – Even though the floodwaters of the Susquehanna River are beginning to recede the dangers of flooding are not over, according to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
MEMA is working with local officials to support the safety of lives and property after back to back flooding from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. With a history of flooding in low lying areas, federal and state officials want to ensure that Maryland residents know what to do after a flood event.
After the flood Listen to a radio or television and don’t return home until authorities indicate it is safe to do so. Drive responsibly and pay attention to the directions of fire department and law enforcement 1st Responders and respect all public works and State Highway barricades as you return home.
Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance–infants, elderly people and people with disabilities.
- If your home, apartment or business has suffered damage, call the insurance company or agent who handles your flood insurance policy right away to file a claim.
- Before entering a building, inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. Don’t go in if there is any chance of the building collapsing.
- Upon entering the building, don’t use matches, cigarette lighters or any other open flames, because gas may be trapped inside. Instead, use a flashlight to light your way.
- Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.
- Floodwaters pick up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms and factories. If your home has been flooded, protect your family’s health by cleaning up your house right away. Throw out foods and medicines that may have met floodwater.
- Until local authorities proclaim your water supply to be safe, boil water for drinking and food preparation vigorously for five minutes before using.
- Be careful walking around. After a flood, steps and floors are often slippery with mud and covered with debris, including nails and broken glass.
- Take steps to reduce your risk of future floods. Make sure to follow local building codes and ordinances when rebuilding, and use flood-resistant materials and techniques to protect yourself and your property from future flood damage.
- Be aware of displaced wildlife and inspect all debris laden areas carefully for rodents, snakes and other animals that may be trapped or sought refuge in the debris.
- Stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution is another major source of deaths in floods. Electric current passes easily through water.
For more information log on to MEMA’s website at www.mema.state.md.usand click on the link for flooding.
TROOPER RESCUES WOMAN FROM SUBMERGING VEHICLE
September 8th, 2011(BEL AIR, MD) – A Maryland state trooper’s rescue of a Harford County woman whose vehicle was being submerged in flood waters last night is a reminder of why police, fire, and emergency management personnel are urging motorists not to drive into areas flooded by the continuing rain.
At about 8:30 p.m. yesterday, Corporal Ray Domico, of the Bel Air Barrack, was assigned to a traffic post at Rt. 24 and Cherry Hill Road where the road was closed due to flooding. Police Communications Operator Veronica Bruns received a frantic 911 call from a woman who was trapped in her vehicle that was being submerged after she drove into water flooding across the roadway from Deer Creek on Rt. 24 at St. Clair Bridge Road, about two miles north of Cpl. Domico’s post. While Cpl. Domico headed north toward the location, PCO Bruns stayed on the phone trying to calm the distraught 49-year-old woman from Pylesville.
Upon arrival at the scene, Cpl. Domico spotted the sinking sport utility vehicle in swift moving water. Knowing he had to act quickly, Cpl. Domico waded into the waist-deep water. He was able to reach the vehicle and assist the driver, who was the only occupant, out of the SUV. Cpl. Domico helped her walk back through the water to dry ground. Neither person was injured in the incident. The vehicle remains in the flood waters at that location.
State, county, and municipal road departments have blocked flooded roadway areas across the state. Drivers are urged to heed those blockades and follow established detours. If drivers come upon a flooded roadway that has not been blocked, they are urged not to drive into the flooded area.
Before heading out this morning, drivers are urged to check the State Highway Administration travel advisory website at www.md511.org for the latest road closures and information about highway hazards, traffic crashes, and delays. The latest weather and other emergency information is available on the Maryland Emergency Management Agency website atwww.mema.state.md.us.
Flooding forecast for Susquehanna River
September 8th, 2011Port Deposit, MD – September 7, 2011: Major flooding is forecast along the Susquehanna River over the next several days. The Town of Port Deposit and Cecil County Department of Emergency Services urge all residents to prepare now for evacuation. This will be a major flood event that should be taken very seriously by residents.
At 10:00 PM Exelon Corporation, operator of the Conowingo Dam, reported that 13 spill gates on the dam were open. MD.222 Susquehanna River Road is currently closed from the Conowingo Dam to the Town of Port Deposit and the Town Emergency Operations Center has been activated. As many as 20 spill gates may be opened by 6:00 AM and river flow is anticipated to increase through Saturday.
“Based on information from the National Weather Service, we expect this to be very similar to the flood that the Town experienced in 1996. I have ordered a voluntary evacuation for all of Main Street by 4:00 PM Thursday”, said Port Deposit Mayor Wayne Tome. Residents are asked to heed the direction of emergency workers when the time comes to evacuate and it is recommended that residents take prescription medications, non-perishable food, water, and a battery or hand-crank powered radio with you. The Cecil County Department of Emergency Services is coordinating the activation of an emergency shelter that will be available after 4:00 PM Thursday at the Perryville High School for evacuated residents that are unable to stay with family or friends.
Information on the number of gates open at the dam can be obtained from the Conowingo Spill Condition Hotline at (877) 457-2525. Residents in Port Deposit with questions or concerns may contact Town Hall at (410) 378-2121.
MOTORCYCLE REMEMBRANCE RIDE ON I-695 SUNDAY AFTERNOON
September 8th, 2011(PIKESVILLE, MD) — Maryland State Police are joining with the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and county police in Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties to advise motorists of possible traffic delays along the route of a 9-11 memorial event this Sunday that will involve thousands of motorcycles and occur simultaneously on both loops of the Baltimore Beltway.
The memorial ride will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11th, at two locations on the north and south sides of I-695. A total of 3,000 motorcycles could potentially participate in this event.
The northern ride will begin on Rt. 40 in Middle River and proceed to I-695 south. Riders will travel around the inner loop of I-695, back to Rt. 43 where they will exit and the ride will end.
The ride from the south will begin in the 7500-block of Old Telegraph Road, in Hanover, Md., and will proceed to I-97 and then north to the outer loop of I-695. The group will travel around the outer loop of I-695 until they return to I-97 in Anne Arundel Co.
Maryland State Police will not be escorting the ride, but will be monitoring traffic in cooperation with the State Highway Administration and will do everything possible to minimize traffic disruptions. Extra troopers will be stationed at several locations around I-695 where pre-planning has determined traffic disruptions could occur. Additional troopers will also be working traffic details related to the Baltimore Ravens game that begins at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
Motorists are reminded that if they are traveling anywhere on I-695 after 1:00 p.m. Sunday, they could experience delays if they encounter this group of motorcyclists. The ride could last up to three hours before it is completed. Questions about the ride should be directed to Tina Jarman at Harley-Davidson of Baltimore, 410-238-2003 x122.
Port Deposit Mandatory Evacuation Order Beginning at 8pm
September 8th, 2011Port Deposit, MD – Mayor Wayne L. Tome, Sr. has issued a mandatory evacuation order beginning at 8:00 pm on Thursday, September 9th, 2011.
All residents of Main Street should prepare to evacuate. A shelter has been established at Perryville High School on Perrylawn Avenue. You are encouraaged to take an emergency kit with you. Some suggested items are non-perishable food, water, a battery powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries, a change of clothes, and medications.
Upon notification of a MANDATORY Evacuation due to the flooding conditions in Port Deposit residents are advised that water and wastewater services will be interrupted. No service of water of wastewater will be provided for the duration of the flooding event IN ALL SERVICE AREAS OF PORT DEPOSIT.
Exelon Corp. has opened 30 gates. Route 1 will be closed temporarily so that State Highway can remove debris from the roadway.
The Mayor issued a state of emergency at 6:30 P.m. on September 7. He also issued a voluntary evacuation for all businesses and residents for 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8. Residents are urged to evacuate by that time. If you do evacuate, you should take an emergency kit with you. Some suggested items are non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries, a change of clothes, and medications.
The Mayor, Council, and Emergency Services are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you updated as necessary. In the meantime, please check the Conowingo Spill hotline at 877.457.2525 andhttp://www.portdeposit.org for updates
STATE POLICE URGE CAUTION DURING HEAVY RAIN
September 7th, 2011(PIKESVILLE, MD) — Maryland State Police are joining their partners at the State Highway Administration and Maryland Emergency Management Agency in urging motorists to use caution as they travel during the ongoing heavy rain, especially during the rush hours tonight and tomorrow morning.
Drivers are reminded that the ongoing heavy rain is contributing to water laying on roadway surfaces and to flooding in low-laying areas. Hydroplaning is a real possibility, especially during heavy rain. The faster someone is driving and the more water there is on the roadway surface, the greater the potential for hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning occurs when one or more tires on a vehicle lose contact with the roadway surface due to the amount of water between the tire and road. This causes decreased ability to control the vehicle and can result in a driver losing complete control. Drivers should reduce speeds and increase following distances.
Drivers are also reminded not to enter areas where flooding has occurred across a roadway. Crossing waters of unknown depth can result in a vehicle stalling out and the occupants becoming stranded, sometimes causing a rescue operation for police and fire personnel. Flood waters can also be swift-moving, adding to the degree of difficulty and danger for motorists and rescue workers.
Drivers should also be on the alert for unexpected hazards such as trees or limbs that have fallen into or across the roadway. The continuing rain on already saturated ground is expected to cause additional downed trees throughout the area.
Before returning home today, motorists are urged to check the new State Highway Administration traveler information website atwww.md511.org, or call 511, for up-to-the-minute information about highway hazards, traffic crashes, travel delays, and road closures due to flooding. Drivers can also visit the Maryland Emergency Management Agency website at www.mema.state.md.us for the latest storm information updates. Drivers should plan on increased commuting times tonight and tomorrow morning.
Flooding Conditions on Baltimore Roadways
September 7th, 2011Motorists are strongly advised to proceed with extreme caution
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists that heavy rains throughout the area have caused flooding on roadways throughout the city. Motorists are advised to proceed with extreme caution while traveling. Multiple areas have been affected and motorists are advised to avoid the following areas:
- Hilton Parkway from Edmondson Avenue to North Avenue (both directions)
- Patapsco Avenue from Potee to Annapolis
- Franklintown Road from Elamont to Forrest Park
- Areas along Harford Road
- Erdman Avenue (eastbound) at Pulaski Highway
Delays and congestion may occur during the evening rush hour. Please allow additional time for travel and stay tuned to local news for updates and alerts.
MARYLAND INSURANCE COMMISSIONER CLARIFIES INSURANCE COMPANIES’ UTILIZATION OF PERCENTAGE DEDUCTIBLES FOR HOMEOWNERS IN AREAS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IRENE
September 2nd, 2011Baltimore, MD Maryland Insurance Commissioner Therese M. Goldsmith today issued Maryland Insurance Administration Bulletin 11-25 to remind property insurers that Maryland law provides that “hurricane deductibles” pay be imposed only in limited circumstances. To lawfully impose a percentage deductible for hurricane damage, the insured’s home must be located in a part of Maryland that was subject to a hurricane warning.
For Hurricane Irene, the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service has confirmed today that only the following Maryland counties were under hurricane warnings: Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Wicomico (expiring at 5 a.m. Sunday, August 28, 2011); and Worcester (including Ocean City) (expiring at 11 a.m. Sunday, August 28, 2011).
Section 19-209 of the Insurance Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland allows insurers to charge a deductible based on a percentage of the policy’s “Coverage A—Dwelling Limit.” However, § 19-209(b) limits the applicability of a percentage deductible to properties located in part of the State for which the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning. If an insured’s home is not located in a part of the State that was subject to such a hurricane warning then a percentage deductible may not be imposed. The law also provides that a percentage deductible only can be applied to a loss or damage that takes place while the hurricane warning is in effect and until twenty-four (24) hours after the termination of the last hurricane warning issued for the part of the State in which the insured’s home is located.
MOSH AND OSHA CALL ON WORKERS AND PUBLIC TO GUARD AGAINST SAFETY HAZARDS DURING HURRICANE CLEAN UP
September 2nd, 2011BALTIMORE, MD. (September 2, 2011) – As residents of Maryland recover from damage inflicted by Hurricane Irene, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) of Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation urge workers and members of the public engaged in hurricane cleanup activities to be aware of the hazards they might encounter and the steps they should take to protect themselves.
“Hurricane Irene proved to be a formidable storm. Clean up and repairs continue across the state. The Maryland Labor Department strongly urges all Maryland families and workers to be safe and use extreme caution as we all clean up from the storm,” said Maryland Labor Secretary Alexander M. Sanchez.
“Hurricane recovery work involves a wide range of safety and health hazards,” said William A. Burke, acting administrator of OSHA’s Philadelphia Regional Office. “These hazards can be minimized by knowledge, safe work practices and personal protective equipment. Federal OSHA and Maryland OSH want to make certain that no casualties result from cleanup operations.”
Cleanup work can involve restoring electricity, communications, water and sewer services; demolition activities; removal of floodwater from structures; entry into flooded areas; cleaning up debris; tree trimming; structural, roadway, bridge, and dam and levee repair; use of cranes, aerial lifts and other heavy equipment; hazardous waste operations; and emergency response activities.
Inherent hazards may include illness from exposure to contaminated water or food, exposure or heat stress, downed electrical wires, carbon monoxide and electrical hazards from portable generators, fall and “struck-by” hazards from tree trimming or working at heights, being caught in unprotected excavations or confined spaces, burns, lacerations, musculoskeletal injuries, being struck by traffic or heavy equipment, and drowning from being caught in moving water or while removing water from flooded structures.
Protective measures should involve evaluating the work area for all hazards; task-specific hazard exposure monitoring; utilizing engineering or work practice controls to mitigate hazards; using personal protective equipment; assuming all power lines are live; following proper hygiene procedures; using portable generators, saws, ladders, vehicles and other equipment correctly; and utilizing proper precautions for traffic work zones.
OSHA maintains comprehensive websites on keeping disaster site workers safe during hurricane cleanup and recovery operations and flooding preparedness and response athttp://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/hurricane/index.html andhttp://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/flood/index.html Federal OSHA is responsible for federal, postal and maritime workplaces and military bases in Maryland, and its Baltimore/Washington Area Office may be reached at 410-865-2055, with more information online athttp://www.osha.gov/oshdir/md.html. MOSH has jurisdiction over all public and private sector places of employment in the state of Maryland. It can be reached at 410-527-4499, and more information is available athttp://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/mosh/.
Additionally, a checklist of activities to be undertaken before, during and after a hurricane is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visithttp://www.osha.gov.
The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation protects and empowers Marylanders by safeguarding workers, protecting consumers, providing a safety net and cultivating a thriving workforce that can meet the demands of Maryland’s dynamic economy. For updates and information, follow DLLR on Twitter (@MD_DLLR) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DLLR.Maryland).