Baltimore County Exec On Hurricane Florence: 'Be Ready'

MIDDLE RIVER, MD — From topping off emergency vehicles to clearing out storm drains, public safety officials in Baltimore County have been busy preparing for Hurricane Florence. As the storm approaches the East Coast, authorities echoed this message at a press conference Thursday: "Be prepared."

Hurricane Florence was 145 miles east southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, when the briefing began in Bowleys Quarters around noon. By 2 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said the storm had moved 35 miles closer to shore and was packing 105 mph winds 110 miles from Wilmington, North Carolina.

"It appears as if we will miss the major brunt of this storm," Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler said, cautioning: "These storms can come up quickly, and we need to be prepared."

Mohler recalled the storms that flooded Catonsville, Oella and Ellicott City in May with little warning.

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"This ground is saturated," Mohler said of the current state of affairs. "We need to be prepared."

Mohler said that the county's head of emergency management told him to think of the area as a coffee cup filled to the brim, which would overflow with one more drop.

"We are extremely concerned with the streams and rivers at full capacity and the highly saturated grounds that in heavy rainfall or high winds could cause significant damage," Director of Emergency Management Jay Ringgold said at the press conference Thursday. It was held at the Bowleys Quarters Fire Department, which falls in a vulnerable area due to its shoreline. But even inland, above-average rainfall has soaked the ground.

Public Works Director Steve Walsh noted Baltimore has had the wettest July on record since 1889, with more than 16 inches of rainfall, when the area usually gets about 49 inches of rain a year.

"Downed trees are certainly a concern with the wet ground," Walsh said. "Opening our roads up when trees fall is the first order of business for us."

Crews do not touch the trees until BGE comes and cuts the power for safety reasons, he added.

A large tree fell into an apartment building in Middle River Thursday, Baltimore County Emergency Management officials said. https://t.co/82WGcJNYwY
— WBAL NewsRadio 1090 (@wbalradio) September 7, 2018

A spokesperson from BGE said the utility company has been asked whether it has sent crews out of state to assist with hurricane response efforts. As of Thursday, BGE spokeswoman Linda Foy said the company had not made any decisions because it is unclear how central Maryland will be affected by Hurricane Florence.

Foy advised residents to ensure they had adequate supplies on hand. (See a storm preparedness list below.)

"Now is not the time to relax," Foy said. "It doesn't appear...that the storm is going to affect us as significantly as we thought it might a couple of days ago. However, now is not the time to put your guard down."

The county executive reiterated the danger posed by Baltimore County's "beautiful trees," saying: "If they start coming down, there is a good chance that your home and your neighbor's could be without power for several days. You need to be prepared for that."

Added Mohler: "We may dodge the worst of this but there still may be periodic storms that come up over the next five, six, seven days. We need to be ready. We will be ready as a county to respond and we need and ask every citizen to do their part to be ready as well."

Fire officials said their efforts have mirrored what people in communities are probably doing.

"This week has been rather busy with preparations," Assistant Fire Chief Paul Lurz said. "We're doing in the fire department on a larger scale the same thing that people do in preparation their homes."

Fuel has been topped off on the fire department's vehicles and medical supplies are stocked, Lurz added.

The fire department has pre-deployed equipment in areas that might be impacted by flooding, according to Lurz, who said officials were also making sure everyone was up to speed and trained on the equipment. Among the pieces ready to respond is the new Bowleys Quarters high-water rescue vehicle.

Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, who said she knows firsthand how quickly the weather can take a toll in the eastern part of the county, said: "Let's prepare for the worst and hope for the best." She said she hopes the fire company does not have to use its new vehicle, which can travel in nearly 5 feet of water.

Baltimore County Police Chief Terrence Sheridan said the marine team will be available with all of its equipment particularly in areas that are known to flood. Weather-permitting, the police department's helicopter will be available to assist.

From marine teams to medical supplies, Baltimore County officials said they have resources ready for whatever the storm brings. Waterways and trees are majors concerns, officials said, and residents should be sure they have emergency kits and supplies in place in case the power goes out.

What To Do If Roads Flood

"Don't go out," Sheridan said. Driving can put you and emergency personnel at risk in floods.

Check for county road closures and state road closures.

Public works crews have been ensuring storm drains, pipes and inlets are clear, according to Walsh. If storm drains are blocked, contact public works at 410-887-3300.

What To Do If Your Basement Floods

"If your basement is flooded, do not go into your basement, because that water can become energized," Foy of BGE said. She added that water meters can fill with water too.

Call the Baltimore County Fire Department at 410-887-4500 or individual stations for assistance with flooding. They helped residents after the Memorial Day weekend floods in Catonsville.

What To Do If Power Goes Out

Report outages to BGE online or call 877-778-2222 to report a power outage.

Call BGE at 1-800-685-0123 to report downed wires.

Follow these for emergency information:

• BaltoCoEmergency
• BaltCoFire
• MEMA

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How To Prepare For The Storm

• Keep a flashlight and extra batteries ready.
• Have cash on hand in case credit machines are down in an outage.
• Clear your gutters and downspouts.
• Remove loose items from your yard that can become projectiles.
• Charge cell phones and mobile devices.
• Develop a plan for older individuals and pets.
• Make sure gas tanks are at least half full.
• Establish a place to meet family members if evacuation is necessary.
• Have 3 to 7 days of nonperishable food and water (1 gallon of water per person per day at least).
• Stock up on supplies for pets.
• Place documents, phone numbers and cash in a sealed plastic bag in your emergency kit.

Director of Health and Human Services Della Leister said to remember the 3 "P"s:

• Check on people, such as older adults and those who rely on electricity for things like oxygen.
• "If you have pets, make sure you have an emergency preparedness plan for your pets," Leister said.
• She also advised those on prescriptions to get at least a one-week supply of prescription medication.

Watch the Hurricane Florence press conference at the Bowleys Quarters firehouse:

We are continuing our daily weather calls with the weather experts at NWS. Flooding along coastlines is a possibility, but so flooding in general for our state through the weekend. Be sure to follow your local forecast for more info. #MDPrepares pic.twitter.com/AIbSSy0h3Q
— Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MDMEMA) (@MDMEMA) September 13, 2018

Graphic via National Hurricane Center. Photo of Bowleys Quarters high-water vehicle courtesy of Baltimore County Government.