MDEM Newsroom - Page 49 MDEM Newsroom
Mayor Declares State of Emergency for Annapolis
August 26th, 2011Urges Residents in Low-Lying Areas to Leave by Tomorrow
Annapolis, MD (08-26-11) Mayor Joshua J. Cohen is declaring a State of Emergency within the city limits, effective 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 26, due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Irene.
Under this directive, the mayor is strongly urging residents in low-lying areas to evacuate by tomorrow afternoon. The Annapolis High School will open as a pet-friendly shelter at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 27.
Efforts to reach these residents are being handled by Annapolis Police and Fire officials, who will walk door to door contacting residents and providing information. The City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management has created an emergency notification and will be calling anyone in or near a potential flood zone.
“We expect most of the residents who need to evacuate will be able to stay with friends or family that live on higher ground,” said Mayor Cohen. “For those who need a place to stay, Annapolis High School will open, and for those who need assistance we can provide transportation. Overall, we expect about one thousand homes to be affected under the most severe conditions.”
To this end, the mayor has ordered all four City garages to allow any residents who want to evacuate to park for free. Anyone needing assistance with transportation to the shelter should call 410-260-2211 after 3:00 p.m. Saturday, August 27.
As part of the State of Emergency, the mayor activated the hurricane call center effective 10:00 a.m. Anyone requesting information or needing non-emergency assistance related to the hurricane can call this number 24 hours a day through the duration of this event. The phone number is 410-260-2211.
The current path puts Hurricane Irene over the Carolina Outer Banks Saturday afternoon. Annapolis could begin to feel the effects of the storm late Saturday morning, with winds gusting to 60 mph in the afternoon. Gusts will be at their peak in Annapolis between 6:00 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect.
Go to http://www.annapolis.gov/ for updated information.
***TODAY*** GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO GIVE HURRICANE IRENE UPDATE
August 26th, 2011ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 25, 2011) – TODAY at 2:30 p.m., Governor O’Malley will hold a press conference to give an update on Hurricane Irene.
The press conference will be streamed here.
WHAT: Governor O’Malley to hold press conference on Hurricane Irene
WHEN: TODAY, Friday, August 26, 2011 at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
5401 Rue St. Lo Drive
Reisterstown, MD
Emergency Declaration: Charles County
August 26th, 2011Charles County has declared a local state of emergency in preparation of Hurricane Irene.
EOC Status: Somerset County
August 26th, 2011Somerset County has fully activated the EOC. Staff responding to evacuation and sheltering needs of the community.
CITIZENS URGED TO PREPARE PROPERTY NOW AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES
August 26th, 2011REISTERSTOWN, MD (August 26, 2011) – Maryland Emergency Management Agency officials are urging citizens statewide to safeguard their property for the approaching hurricane, even if they are not in the high impact area.
“During tropical storm and hurricane force winds, items we usually consider harmless can become dangerous projectiles,” said MEMA Director Richard Muth. “We urge property owners to take a few minutes, look around and either bring items inside or make sure they are secure.”
Although the lower Eastern Shore is expected to take the worst impact from the storm, most of the state will experience severe weather, beginning Saturday evening. All citizens and business owners should follow these tips to protect their homes and property:
· Cover your home or business windows with pre-cut ply wood or hurricane shutters to protect from high winds.
· Secure any heating oil tanks on your property.
· Secure all outdoor furniture, grills, trashcans, pool supplies, or any other outdoor item that could become a projectile during high windows.
· Keep all trees and shrubs trimmed to reduce the risk of dangerous falling branches.
· Keep your gas tank filled in case you have to evacuate.
For more information log on to http://www.mema.state.md.us/
USE CHAIN SAWS WITH RESPECT AND CAUTION
August 26th, 2011REISTERSTOWN, Md. (August 26, 2011) — With Hurricane Irene promising to bring high winds and more rain to already saturated ground throughout Maryland, trees are certain to come down — and homeowners may think about using chain saws to break up the debris.
Think again and think carefully.
Chain saws can quickly cause severe injury or even death if not used properly. If you are not familiar with chain-saw techniques, saw maintenance and operation, be sure to – at minimum – read the owners manual completely and carefully and consult an expert for a demonstration. Other tips to follow to ensure safe use of chain saws:
- Consult with a dealer to get the right size saw for the woodcutting you will be doing. Then get him or her to demonstrate the saw.
- Use the fuel mix recommended by the manufacturer. Never fuel the saw near debris or when the saw is hot.
- Sharpen the saw regularly and maintain proper chain saw tension. A loose chain can come off the guide bar and hit the operator.
- Wear proper protective clothing, including safety goggles, hardhat, trim-fitting clothes (not loose or ragged), long-sleeve shirt and pants, gloves, and safety shoes.
- Never operate a chain saw when you are tired or using alcohol or drugs. Take frequent breaks.
Once you’ve surveyed the job and planned the task:
· Work with both hands on the chain saw handles.
· Keep your eyes on both the blade and what you are cutting.
· Cut only on the right side of your body.
· Do not overreach or cut above shoulder height.
· Cut only with the lower edge of the blade—cutting with the tip is inviting injury.
· Beware of cutting limbs and branches that are bent. They may snap back and hit you.
· Never force a dull chain to cut.
· Remember: Chain saws are made to cut wood—only wood.
More chain saw safety information can be found on the web site for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at:http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa/chainsaw.asp.
AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING DURING POWER OUTAGE
August 26th, 2011Use Caution When Using Alternative Power Sources and Cooking Fuels
Reisterstown, MD – (August 26, 2011) – Hurricane Irene will almost certainly cause wide-spread power outages across the state, and many Marylanders will turn to generators and alternative cooking fuels in the immediate aftermath. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) urges homeowners to understand the potentially catastrophic risks of using these alternatives and to ensure they know how to properly use them to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that can cause illness or death. It is produced by the incomplete burning of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Appliances fueled with natural gas, liquefied petroleum (LP gas), oil, kerosene, coal, or wood may produce CO. Burning charcoal produces CO. Idling cars produce CO.
Adhering to the following guidelines can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- NEVER operate a generator inside a building and follow all other safety instructions for the use of generators, including keeping them a safe distance from doors and windows.
- Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.
- Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers for heating your home.
- Never operate un-vented fuel-burning appliances in any room with closed doors or windows or in any room where people are sleeping.
- Do not use gasoline-powered tools and engines indoors. If use is unavoidable, ensure that adequate ventilation is available and whenever possible, direct engine exhaust to the outdoors.
- Make sure appliances are installed and used according to manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by professionals.
- Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skills, and tools. Always refer to the owner’s manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning appliances.
- Install a CO detector/alarm that meets the requirements of the current UL standard 2034 or the requirements of the IAS 6-96 standard. A carbon monoxide detector/alarm can provide added protection, but is no substitute for proper use and upkeep of appliances that can produce CO.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
- The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness.
- Many people with CO poisoning mistake their symptoms for the flu or are misdiagnosed by physicians, which sometimes results in tragic deaths.
What should you do if you are experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning?
If you think you are experiencing any of the symptoms of CO poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Open windows and doors for more ventilation, turn off any combustion appliances, and leave the house. Call your fire department or emergency medical service and report your symptoms. You could lose consciousness and CO poisoning can be fatal. It is also important to contact a doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis. Tell your doctor that you suspect CO poisoning is causing your problems. Prompt medical attention is important if you are experiencing any symptoms of CO poisoning when you are operating fuel-burning appliances. Before turning your fuel-burning appliances back on, make sure a qualified serviceperson checks them for malfunction.
Every year, more than 200 people in the United States die from CO produced by fuel-burning appliances (furnaces, ranges, water heaters, room heaters). Others die from CO produced while burning charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent. Still others die from CO produced by cars left running in attached garages. Several thousand people go to hospital emergency rooms for treatment for CO poisoning.
For more information, see: Consumer Product Safety Commission, Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers, CPSC Document #466,http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html
IRENE PROMPTS TEMPORARY CLOSING OF SHELLFISH HARVESTING IN MARYLAND WATERS
August 26th, 2011MDE closes Chesapeake Bay, tributaries, coastal bays to harvesting; emergency action to remain in effect through Sept. 3, does not apply to fishing or crabbing
BALTIMORE, MD (August 26, 2011) – With Hurricane Irene bringing the potential for flooding and large amounts of stormwater runoff, the Maryland Department of the Environment has issued an emergency closure to shellfish harvesting in Maryland waters.
MDE is temporarily closing the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, including all tributaries, and Maryland’s coastal bays to shellfish harvesting effective Sunday, Aug. 28. Areas previously open to shellfish harvesting are to reopen for shellfish harvesting Saturday, Sept. 3.
The closure could remain in effect beyond that date if water-quality monitoring shows additional concerns. It could be lifted before that date if the storm’s effects on water quality are less than expected.
The closure applies only to the harvesting of shellfish (oysters and clams); it does not apply to fishing or crabbing.
“Maryland is taking this emergency action to prevent the potentially harmful effects of eating shellfish exposed to contaminated waters,” said MDE Secretary Robert M. Summers. “This ensures that Maryland maintains its reputation for safe and wholesome seafood products.”
Shellfish are filter feeders with the ability to filter water and get food from microscopic organisms in the water. If the waters are polluted, this filtering process can concentrate disease-causing organisms associated with raw sewage and other sources, such as animal waste. Oysters and clams are often eaten raw or partially cooked and must come from waters that are not polluted.
MDE monitors bacteriological water quality and conducts pollution source surveys to determine which areas are safe for the harvesting of shellfish. The Department is required to close areas that do not meet the strict water quality standards for shellfish harvesting waters, and it has a longstanding policy to reopen areas to shellfish harvesting when water quality improves. These actions ensure that Maryland remains in compliance with the requirements of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program.
As Hurricane Irene approached Maryland, MDE determined that tidal flooding from the storm could affect septic systems and cause sewer systems to overflow, creating the potential for shellfish harvesting waters to be contaminated. Receding tides and large amounts of stormwater runoff could also carry contaminants to waterways.
The commercial oyster season in Maryland does not begin until October 1, and it is anticipated that the effects on shellfish water quality from Irene will have dissipated by then. The emergency closure affects, in addition to the harvesting of clams, the harvesting of oysters from leased beds and through aquaculture operations. Those oysters can normally be harvested throughout the year.
MDE issued a similar, week-long emergency closure to shellfish harvesting in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries due to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Isabel in September 2003.
For additional information on Maryland’s preparations for Hurricane Irene, go to Maryland.gov.
CLEMSONVILLE ROAD REOPENS
August 26th, 2011FREDERICK, MD The Frederick County Department of Construction Management and Inspection announced today that the realignment of Clemsonville Road is now open to traffic from Lehigh Road to Pearre Road.
***TODAY*** GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO GIVE HURRICANE IRENE UPDATE
August 25th, 2011ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 25, 2011) – TODAY, at 3:30 p.m., Governor O’Malley will hold a press conference to give an update on Hurricane Irene.
In preparation for the storm,the Governor has declared a State of Emergency for Maryland.
Please also note that the Governor will no longer be attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the Brandywine Interchange Project.
WHAT: Governor O’Malley to hold press conference on Hurricane Irene
WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
5401 Rue St. Lo Drive
Reisterstown, MD