County Executive Leopold Declares State of Emergency for Anne Arundel County

Residents in flood-Prone areas advised to evacuate

August 26, 2011

County Executive John R. Leopold has declared a State of Emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Irene and is advising residents in the flood plain to evacuate.

We are expecting this storm to cause significant damage, including downed trees, damaged structures and flooding, County Executive Leopold said. While protecting property is important and should be done throughout today, safety is the highest priority. If you live in the flood plain, it would be a good idea to evacuate to higher ground until conditions improve and it is safe to return to your home.

Mandatory evacuations can only be issued by the Governor. However, the County is urging residents of low-lying areas to seek higher ground starting Saturday morning. The attached map shows the communities that are located in the flood plain. A phone message was sent to 10,000 people at 11:30 a.m. making them aware of shelter options.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Hurricane Irene, presently located 420 miles Southwest of Cape Hatteras, NC, will move along the Delmarva coastline Saturday afternoon. Hurricane Irene is now a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 miles per hour and is expected to hold its intensity over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for Maryland and various jurisdictions are moving persons out of vulnerable flooding areas. Anne Arundel County is encouraging residents in low-lying and coastal areas to relocate to higher ground.

A shelter will be open on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Annapolis High School, 2700 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Domestic pets will be welcomed. Please bring your pets food, medication, and vaccination records. Please remember all necessary supplies such as medications, sleeping bag and pillow, baby and elderly essentials, cash, and important documents.

Prior to evacuating your home please secure all objects outside your home to minimize damage. One good way to stay updated is to "like" Facebook pages listed at http://www.aacounty.org, including the Office of Emergency Management. You can also subscribe to an RSS feed to receive updates on your smart phone.

some useful tips for citizens to prepare

• Have a plan to shelter in place for 72 hours or evacuate.
• Update your supply kit with water (gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, fresh batteries and flashlight, radio, medications, and special need supplies for babies, elderly, and pets.
• Fill your gas tanks in vehicles.
• Fill all prescriptions.
• Have cash available.
• Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Ensure your generator is safely accessible outside your home; a bicycle lock can be placed to secure your generator.
• Secure your home by closing shutters, and securing outdoor objects or bringing them inside.
• In a power outage, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
• Turn off propane tanks.
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage, it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Sanitize and fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

Additional preparedness information can be obtained at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm or http://www.ready.gov

For information or non-emergency (life safety) help calls, please call 410-222-0600.

Anne Arundel County Office of Public Information
(410) 222-1288
(410) 693-0672