MDEM Newsroom - Page 49 MDEM Newsroom

Emergency Declaration: Charles County

Charles County has declared a local state of emergency in preparation of Hurricane Irene.

Tags: charles county, emergency declaration

EOC Status: Somerset County

Somerset County has fully activated the EOC. Staff responding to evacuation and sheltering needs of the community.

Tags: eoc status, somerset county

CITIZENS URGED TO PREPARE PROPERTY NOW AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES

REISTERSTOWN, 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/

Tags: business, home, hurricane, irene, property

USE CHAIN SAWS WITH RESPECT AND CAUTION

REISTERSTOWN, 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.

Tags: cdc, chainsaw, hurricane

AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING DURING POWER OUTAGE

Use 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

Tags: carbon monoxide, cpsc, hurricane, outage, power outage

IRENE PROMPTS TEMPORARY CLOSING OF SHELLFISH HARVESTING IN MARYLAND WATERS

MDE 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.

Tags: hurricane, irene, mde, shellfish

CLEMSONVILLE ROAD REOPENS

FREDERICK, 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.

Tags: Frederick, road

***TODAY*** GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO GIVE HURRICANE IRENE UPDATE

Tags: governor, hurricane, irene, state of emergency

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

Download the Executive Order here (Vehicle Size and Weight Limits)

Download the Executive Order (Nursing Home)

Maryland residents must continue to prepare

REISTERSTOWN, MD (August 25, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Irene continued to move up the Atlantic Coast. The state of emergency allows the state to use Maryland National Guard resources, allows the Governor to suspend certain statutes (especially as they relate to commercial vehicles) and clears the way for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to send resources to Maryland.

In addition to the state of emergency, Maryland is providing assistances to the evacuation of Ocean City. The mayor and city council have ordered mandatory evacuation form the resort community as of midnight tonight. Earlier, local officials from the Eastern Shore coordinated with state agencies to begin evacuating the student workers from Ocean City to shelters on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay.

Pet owners also should make preparations for care of their pets and make sure to have plenty of food. In addition, if asked to evacuate, make sure your plans include your pets. Some local shelters in Maryland have designated areas for pets, but many do not. Check with your local emergency management office for details.

Additionally, cell phone usage may be taxed during this event. Please limit cell phone calls to urgent or emergency calls and make them as brief as possible. Also do not call local 9-1-1 emergency centers unless you have a true emergency. Their lines need to remain open for serious emergencies.

For the latest information on storm-related activity in Maryland, follow @MEMA_feeds and use the hashtag #MDhurricane.

All state hurricane related information, including preparedness tips for Marylanders, can be found at http://www.maryland.gov/. Other sites for information included the federal ready.gov site and the American Red Cross site at http://www.redcross.org/.

Here are some things residents can do to be prepared:

            Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Cash or traveler’s checks and change
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the EFFAK Emergency Financial First Aid Kit – PDF, 277Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information fromhttp://www.ready.gov/
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Family Emergency Plan

• Identify an out-of town contact.  It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. Emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
• Teach family members how to use text messaging (also knows as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
• Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting yourlocal Office of Emergency Management web site.

Planning to Stay or Go

Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether you stay where you are or evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and available information, including what you are learning here, to determine if there is an immediate danger. In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for information or official instruction as it becomes available. For information on staying put or sheltering in place, click here.

Emergency Information

Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door.

Tags: hurricane, state of emergency

As Hurricane Irene Approaches, FEMA Urges East Coast Residents to Be Prepared

Residents Should Follow the Instructions of Local Officials and VisitReady.gov or Listo.gov to Prepare for Hurricanes and Severe Weather

WASHINGTON – As Hurricane Irene moves toward the East Coast of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging all residents in East Coast states to take steps now to prepare their families and businesses for hurricanes and severe weather. Visitwww.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov for helpful tips on preparing for hurricanes, flash flooding and other disasters.

According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Irene is now a category three hurricane and will move across the southeastern and central Bahamas today and over the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday. For more forecast information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Hurricane Center, click here.

“FEMA, along with the entire federal family, continues to closely monitor Hurricane Irene,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “We remain in close contact and coordination with all of our state and territorial partners in the Caribbean and along the East Coast that have already or could possibly experience impacts from this storm. Hurricane Irene’s future path is still uncertain, and I encourage everyone to visit Ready.gov and take steps now to keep their family safe and secure. The most important thing for people to do right now is to listen to and follow the instructions of their local officials. If you are told to evacuate, evacuate.”

FEMA continues its support response efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and on August 22, President Obama signed anemergency declaration for Puerto Rico, making federal funding available to supplement commonwealth and local response efforts in the area. In Puerto Rico, federal personnel are joining commonwealth and local officials today to conduct joint preliminary damage assessments, as weather permits. These damage assessments are the first step in helping a governor determine whether the scope of the damages are beyond what the commonwealth is capable of handling, and if additional federal assistance is needed.

Additionally, this past weekend, FEMA proactively deployed regional Incident Management Assistance Teams to the Caribbean to coordinate with territory and local officials to identify needs and shortfalls impacting potential disaster response and recovery. While Hurricane Irene moves away from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, FEMA encourages those in the area to continue to monitor weather conditions and listen to the direction of commonwealth and territorial officials.

As Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast, FEMA, through its regional offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, continues to monitor the storm closely and is in close contact with their respective state emergency management agencies.

In advance preparation for the storm, FEMA has deployed National Incident Management Assistance Teams to staging areas in Georgia and Virginia, in anticipation of further deployment to potential impact areas along the east coast of the U.S. Additionally, at all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories. In Atlanta, for instance, FEMA has more than two million liters of water, more than 1.3 million meals, and more than 16,000 cots and 56,000 blankets. These resources may be moved to Incident Support Bases, which are distribution centers located closer to the impacted areas, as needed and requested by state partners.

These commodities are meant to supplement state resources if needed, but it is critical that individuals and families that are able build their own emergency supply kits, so that in the event of a disaster, state and local resources can be focused on our most vulnerable citizens.

FEMA is coordinating across the federal government to ensure territorial and state officials have the support they need as they respond to or prepare for Irene. New actions as of today include, but are not limited to:

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started deploying members of the 249th Engineering Battalion (Prime Power) to Puerto Rico to assist with restoring power to the island.

• The Federal Communications Center (FCC) has deployed two Roll Call Spectrum Scanning teams to the FEMA regional offices in Atlanta and Boston. These teams conduct post scans after landfall to determine which critical communications systems might have been impacted.

• Health and Human Services (HHS) is prepared to provide public health and medical support to states along the east coast in response to Hurricane Irene. The HHS is also coordinating with public health and emergency management agencies in U.S. territories and states along the projected hurricane path to make information available on how people can protect their health as they prepare for and respond to hurricanes and other natural disasters.

• The U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has activated a Defense Coordinating Officer to the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta in preparation for support to civil authorities as Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast of the United States.

• The Department of Defense has designated Fort Bragg, North C Incident Support Base to support FEMA operations to respond to Hurricane Irene.

Click here for the previous update on these activities.

FEMA encourages everyone, regardless of whether they live in a hurricane-prone area, to take steps to ensure their families, homes and businesses are prepared for a possible emergency. As a reminder, the month of September is designated as National Preparedness Month (NPM), an opportunity to encourage Americans to be prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. Individuals and families can learn about events and activities, and groups can register to become a NPM Coalition Member by visiting http://community.fema.gov. NPM is sponsored by the Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Ad Council.

FEMA’s support of disaster response activities in Puerto Rico, and its proactive support for East Coast storm preparations, does not diminish its focus from critical federal disaster response and recovery operations that continue, across the nation, including flooding in the Midwest and the ongoing recovery from the southeastern tornadoes. Every disaster is a reminder that they can happen anytime, anywhere. Now is the time to prepare–visit www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov for tips on creating your family emergency plan and putting together an emergency supply kit.

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema,www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities atwww.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Tags: fema, hurricane, irene, nws