Storm Aftermath: Isaias’ Impact On Prince George's County

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Tropical Storm Isaias battered Prince George's County Tuesday. Though the storm's rain and wind were strong, it caused minimal water damage.

Preliminary data shows that Isaias dumped more than 5 inches of rain in some areas of the county. The storm drenched Marlton with 5.1 inches of rain, the National Weather Service says. Towns along and east of the Interstate 95 corridor felt the heaviest downpour.

Prince George's County was under an assortment of warnings, ranging from coastal flood to tornado. Despite the expected inundation, the storm surge was largely harmless.

Strong winds proved to be the more widespread concern. Tropical storm force winds ripped throughout the county, maxing out at 44 mph at Andrews Air Force Base.

Winds must reach at least 39 mph for a system to be considered a tropical storm. Sustained winds of 74 mph or more draw a hurricane categorization. Storms with winds 38 mph or weaker are called tropical depressions.

The gusts interrupted the local power supply, as Prince George's County registered more than 1,000 power outages. About 600 households were still without power by 10 p.m.

More than 79,000 Maryland homes lost power during the storm. Electricity has been restored to about one-third of those affected, but 28,121 residences were still powerless when this article was last updated.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company said it restored power to 19,000 people by 1 p.m. Partnering with parent company affiliates and local contractors, BGE has 2,000 employees working to address outages, modernize infrastructure and trim trees around power lines.

BGE says its top priorities are critical facilities like 911 call centers, hospitals and pumping stations. After that, the company will focus on bringing electricity back to the most number of people as quickly as possible. BGE will also consider those who have been without power the longest in their recovery plans.

The electric company says its crews will follow social distancing regulations while working and resting. BGE asks everyone to maintain a safe distance from their workers.

BGE reminds its customers to follow these safety tips:

• Always stay away from any storm damaged electrical equipment, especially downed power lines and tree limbs that may come into contact with power lines.
• Check on elderly neighbors and relatives.
• Don't connect your generator directly to your home's wiring. Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage. Read and adhere to the manufacturer's instructions for safe operation.

To report an outage or downed wire, customers should call 1-877-778-2222. Customers can also report an outage by texting "OUT" to MYBGE (69243).

Residents can track or report their outages through the company’s mobile app or website at bge.com. BGE’s interactive map also provides information about outages and estimates how quickly power may be restored.

"We appreciate our customers’ patience and the efforts of our employees who are working as quickly as is safely possible to restore service under very challenging conditions," Carim Khouzami, chief executive officer of BGE, said in a press release.

Isaias wasn't just dangerous for power lines. The storm also created difficult driving conditions.

Slippery roads caused floods and challenged tires. One car slid off the road into a building in Bowie, according to the Prince George's County Fire Department.

The storm traveled through the mid-Atlantic Tuesday afternoon and reached New England by the evening. It is moving northeast at about 40 mph and has sustained winds of about 50 mph. The National Hurricane Center expects Isaias to weaken to a tropical depression and reach Canada by Wednesday morning.

RELATED:

• 1 Death As Isaias Drenches MD, 40K Residents Without Power
• Prince George's Power Outages: Latest Updates

Maryland Patch Editor Elizabeth Janney contributed reporting to this article. This article was last updated on Tuesday at 10:25 p.m.

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