Hurricane Irene Makes Its Way Into Maryland
BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP)-- President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Maryland, which authorizes Homeland Security and FEMA to coordinate disaster efforts. Governor Martin O'Malley had already declared a state of emergency.
One person has been killed by Irene in Maryland when a tree fell on a house in Queen Anne's County.
BGE says that already about 117,000 people are without power, thanks to Irene.
Maryland State Police say an apparent tornado touched down on the lower Eastern Shore.
Gov. O'Malley says he's hopeful the latest forecasts are correct in calling for a Chesapeake Bay tidal surge of no greater than three feet.
He says he is most concerned about urban flooding:
O'Malley said in a Saturday night briefing with reporters that forecasters are predicting winds from Hurricane Irene will create a reverse tide as the storm passes through Maryland. If that happens, the storm will pull water out of places like Annapolis and Baltimore, which had a larger than expected surge during Tropical Storm Isabel.
O'Malley says a sort of reverse tidal flow will might make it easier to accommodate the outfalls of places like Jones Falls and other rivers that weather forecasters anticipate will be swollen to their banks because of all the rain that has fallen in smaller tributaries.
Spokesman Greg Shipley says a trooper saw what appeared to be a twister touch down in a wooded area near Powellville in Wicomico County shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday.
Shipley says there's no indication of injuries or damage to structures.
Meghan McCorkell has the latest from MEMA on conditions in Maryland:
The Maryland Transportation Authority has closed the Bay Bridge, as sustained winds at the bridge have reached 62 mph and gusts reached 80 mph Saturday evening. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is also closed.
The bridges will remain closed until conditions are deemed safe for vehicles to cross.
MDTA's three additional bridges -- the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge, the Tydings Memorial Bridge and the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge -- are operating under wind warnings. That means that empty trailers and recreatial vehicles are banned from the bridges.
Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley discusses the criteria for bridge closures:
Calvert Cliffs is being evacuated because of Irene.
Several roads in Baltimore County are closed due to standing water.
MTA is suspending service in Maryland Saturday evening due to the hurricane.
"In the interest of safety, MTA has made the decision to temporarily suspend service, starting with 6 p.m. and the light rail. At 9 p.m., we will suspend bus and subway operations," said Terry Owens, MTA. "After 9 p.m., scheduled medical trips only will be held. We want the community to know this may cause them some hardship this evening but we are choosing to err on the side of caution and safety here."
Bus and subway service is expected to resume by 6 a.m. Sunday, and the light rail will operate on its normal Sunday schedule beginning at 11 a.m. This, of course, depends on the impact of the storm.
For more information, go to www.mta.maryland.com or call 410-539-5000.
MTA's Terry Owens has more:
The Baltimore County Executive was nervous about Bowleys Quarters because of the possibility of flooding. So far, the area is faring pretty well, although the residents are understandably nervous, thanks to what happened with Isabel.
In vulnerable areas like Bowleys Quarters, home and boat owners are preparing too after 2003's Isabel flooded the entire waterfront community.
"Our concern is that we will get flooded and water will get in the house and do damage," one Bowleys Quarters resident said.
"The lesson I learned from Isabel is, I can't stop the water from coming in," explained another. "It's going to come in."
Gigi Barnett reports from Bowleys Quarters.
Governor Martin O'Malley had a conference call with the president Friday morning because the state is working very closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide local jurisdictions any resources they might need. They're also talking about how to deal with the potentially devastating aftermath.
O'Malley and the heads of every state agency are camped out at the Maryland Emergency Operations Center in Reisterstown, processing every model of Hurricane Irene as she inches closer by the second.
"We are preparing for the worst," O'Malley said.
Not mincing any words, he calls it "a monster storm."
"This is the real deal," he said. "This is a big, deadly and dangerous storm."
Gov. O'Malley, who says he expects the storm to be at its worst until Sunday at 3 or 4 a.m.
Statewide priorities include handling evacuations along the coast, monitoring bridges and roads that may need to be shut down and deploying help. The state National Guard and federal troops are in place. So are utility workers expected to handle a widespread power outage. BGE has called on help from as far south as Mississippi.
Most of the reported outages are in Anne Arundel County. Crews are still responding to emergency calls. Rob Gould, chief communications officer for BGE, has the update:
"Our goal, of course, is to restore service as safely and quickly as possible, but we think this storm has the potential to cause upwards of 500,000 outages," BGE spokesperson Linda Foy said. "So, if we see a storm with that sort of impact, it's going to take several days."
BGE is preparing for widespread outages, possibly as many as 45 percent of their customers. They obviously can't begin to restore power until after Irene has gone by. Many people could be without power for days.
"We're concerned about the combination of heavy, heavy rain and a ground that's already saturated," said Gould, BGE. "Add in the wind and you have a recipe for disaster where the trees could be coming down on the lines."
Gould says everyone should call if there's an outage and not to assume that BGE knows about it.
"The city is prepared. We're working to make sure our citizens are prepared," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. "We have a very targeted list of the things that need to be done hour by hour. I understand the inclination to be afraid but it's better to be prepared than fearful."
More with Mayor Rawlings-Blake:
Mike Schuh has the latest on conditions in downtown Baltimore:
Officials are asking that if you see a blocked storm drain in the city, call 311 to report it.
As Hurricane Irene barrels towards Maryland, the fear factor is rising.
"It's nerve-wrecking. It really is. It's nerve-wrecking. We'll see," said Toshia Johnson, a Baltimore resident who is preparing for the hurricane.
"We've gone to the grocery store. We've stocked up. So we're just kind of waiting it out," Nicole Smalley said.
While some businesses try to make light of the storm, they know Irene is no joke.
Drivers in Fells Point are being warned to move any cars south of Eastern Avenue off the streets.
Free parking is being offered at the Caroline Street garage, the Fleet and Eden garages and the Edison parking lot.
"Everyone has to be on high alert and make sure they have what they need to get through this," said Rawlings-Blake.
"We've got pumps," said Bill Irvin of Kooper's Taven. "We've got all kinds of things just to protect us."
Irvin knows how dangerous the hurricane can be after having faced Isabel.
"You'll see the boats there will be on the street," he said. "They'll come up that far. It's going to be scary."
Preparation is the key until we know what wrath Irene will bring.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)-- People on both sides of the Bay Bridge are moving to higher ground, including in our state's capital.
Weijia Jiang has more on how Annapolis is handling the situation, as Irene comes to town.
The mayor is asking everyone in the low-lying areas to evacuate, if they have not done so already. At 9 p.m., the winds and the rain started picking up, and the mayor called this the "Witching Hour" as the worst of the hurricane blows through.
Local business owners are also preparing for the worst.
The city Emergency Operations Center is also up and running.
"It is the height of selfishness for people to put not only themselves but emergency responders in danger," Annapolis Mayor Joshua Cohen said.
Back at City Dock, one shop holds an eerie reminder of the damage caused by the last hurricane.
When Isabel hit in 2003, this entire area flooded with several feet of water, including the Market House. This time shop owners there aren't taking any chances.
They're wrapping up or moving things to higher ground. While no one knows what's to come, people here don't think Irene is overhyped.
"I wish it would just blow out to sea but I don't think that's going to happen," Goodman said.
City leaders say Annapolis High School will be used as a temporary shelter.
To check if you live in a flood-prone area, and for precautions on what you can do if you do, visit the Maryland Emergency Agency website
