CHARLES COUNTY
The National Weather Service is forecasting a significant snowstorm this weekend for Charles County and surrounding areas. Today, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, Commissioner President Peter F. Murphy signed an order declaring a local state of emergency in Charles County. A state of emergency declaration allows the Department of Emergency Services to engage, deploy, and coordinate available resources to protect Charles County residents’ lives and property in the event of severe weather impact from the snowstorm.
A local state of emergency is also an indicator to residents that this will likely be a significant winter storm and to take necessary precautions. Motorists are urged to stay off the roads during the height of the storm. Driving could be dangerous soon after the snow begins.
The state of emergency order will take effect at 7 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 22 and continue to be in effect for up to 7 days.
Severe weather notices are posted online at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CharlesCounty, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CharlesCoMD. Weather updates are also aired on CCGTV, which broadcasts on Comcast channel 95 and Verizon channel 10. Sign up for the Citizen Notification System at www.CharlesCountyCNS.com to receive inclement weather and traffic alerts by text message, email, or phone. For information on power outages, view the SMECO outage map at stormcenter.smeco.coop. Call 877-747-6326 to report a power outage. Call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.
ST. MARY’S COUNTY
Due to the impending winter storm, Commissioner President Randy Guy has declared a state of emergency for St. Mary’s County effective Friday, January 22 at 7 a.m. The emergency declaration follows a similar measure signed by Governor Larry Hogan earlier today.
The declaration authorizes the Commissioner President “to take such measures as necessary to maximize the preservation of life and property, including the authority to require evacuation of areas.”
The local state of emergency allows for the St. Mary’s County Emergency Operations Plan to take effect immediately. The state of emergency will be in effect for seven days, expiring on January 29, 2016 at 11:59 p.m.
The high-impact winter storm system heading toward Maryland is forecast to bring heavy snow, winds, and cold temperatures to the county. The storm is expected to start Friday afternoon and the National Weather Service expects the height of the storm to begin soon after the storm starts. Motorists are urged to stay off the roads during the height of the storm. Driving could be dangerous soon after the snow begins.
“I am authorizing this emergency declaration to ensure all resources are in place to battle what could be a massive storm,” said Commissioner President Randy Guy. “I hope our citizens will adhere to messages from our emergency services folks to stay off the road during the height of the storm.”
Citizens are reminded that the commissioners passed an ordinance in 2015 regulating the removal of frozen precipitation from public sidewalks and streets. Ordinance 2015-32, Sec. 260-2. Section (a) states “The owner of any real property in St. Mary’s County which is adjacent to any public sidewalk shall remove or cause to be removed any snow, ice or other frozen precipitation from the entire width of such sidewalk, including any adjacent driveway entrance, curb-cut or ramp, within seventy two (72) hours after the end of the precipitation that caused the situation.”