The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have signed a Resolution to Declare a Local State of Emergency due to the potentially adverse effects from Hurricane Sandy. The declaration makes effective the St. Mary’s County Emergency Operations Plan.
Yesterday, Governor Martin O’Malley signed an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency for all Maryland counties as the State continues to monitor Hurricane Sandy and its potential impact. The declaration gives the state flexibility to activate the Maryland National Guard and provide assistance to local emergency managers.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for our area beginning late Sunday night through Tuesday.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services and Technology reminds residents to make plans now to deal with the possible effects of the storm and follow weather forecasts over the next several days to learn more about the possible path of Hurricane Sandy. Activities to prepare include:
? Prepare for possible power outages lasting several hours or even several days.
? Realize that the daytime temperatures are expected to be about 20 degrees cooler after the storm. If the power goes out, make sure you have extra blankets and appropriate clothing to deal with cooler temperatures if you power is out.
? If using a generator, make sure it is not in a basement or garage and make sure it is located a safe distance from any door, windows or ventilation systems.
? Make sure cell phones and other electronic devices are fully charged. Consider purchasing a car charger if you don’t already have one.
? Secure any loose items such as yard furniture and grills outside of your house.
