City preparations
>> Executive EOC meeting held at Salisbury Fire Department Station 16 this morning.
>> Formal request made to the Wicomico EOC for 8 Humvee vehicles for police and EMS emergencies.
>> The Salisbury Police Department Mobile Command Unit will be dispatched to Salisbury Fire Station 1 as the backup EOC in case of power loss at Station 16.
>> Fire personnel will assist with the evacuation ordered by the county executive. They will follow-up in 4 hour increments for any residents they were not able to be reached. They will leave door tags where necessary to alert residents.
>> Fire volunteers will begin 12-hour shifts starting at 7 p.m. today.
>> Fire department will provide food for EOC, Salisbury Police Department and Salisbury Fire Department emergency personnel through the event, if needed.
>> The county has not implemented a curfew, the mayor will determine if a curfew will be implemented for Salisbury.
>> Updates from Delmarva Power at www.delmarvapower.com.

The Salisbury Police Department is coordinating with the Salisbury Fire Department on public notification of evacuations. SPD is firming up staffing for the event.

Salisbury Zoo: Staff is in the process of prepping for the storm.
>> Computers are or have been backed up
>> Generators have been delivered to run freezers/refrigerators for the food
>> Sand bags will be placed in front of the visitor center and the gift shop doors
>> Larger windows on the buildings will be taped
>> All animals that can be locked indoors will be by tomorrow afternoon
>> Some animals (primarily birds) will be crated and moved to the Animal Services Building, the gator holding building and the Education Animal Holding building
>> The pelicans will be removed from the river, as well as the black-necked swan
>> Staff will be on site to monitor the situation

Many changes have been made to the river system since the last flooding situation at the zoo. Since the changes were made, the river has not backed up and created the flooding problems of years past. Staff will continue to watch the river and its status throughout the storm.

All locations of Wicomico Public Library will be closed tomorrow, Saturday, August 27th.

THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WICOMICO COUNTY WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY,

AUGUST 29, 2011 IN ANTICIPATION OF THE STORM AFTERMATH.

THE COURT IS SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011, BUT THERE WILL BE NO JURY TRIALS. JURORS ARE ASKED TO CALL THE JURY OFFICE ON TUESDAY EVENING CONCERNING THEIR STATUS FOR WEDNESDAY.

Ocean City updates Hurricane Irene activity

Ocean City continues to monitor Hurricane Irene. Evacuation of the town continues and everyone is asked to be out of town by 5 p.m. today.

At 5 p.m. today public transportation ends.
The town’s wastewater treatment plant will be taken off line at 6 p.m. Saturday. Sewer service will be unavailable at that time. The town anticipates the system will be back in service late Sunday evening depending on impacts from the storm.

Emergency management officials advise residents to remove their vehicles from streets in the downtown area and other areas prone to flooding, and move them to higher ground. Route 90 eastbound is now closed to motorists. The Route 50 drawbridge openings end at 5 p.m.


All incoming traffic to Ocean City, Maryland, will be limited to emergency personnel. No other vehicles will be permitted entry to the island, except by approved authority (Mayor, City Manager and Emergency Services Director).
Ocean City Municipal Transportation System is providing transportation for special needs individuals. For special needs transportation, please call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606. International student workforce evacuation has been completed, with 2,112 students safely evacuated.
The Ocean City Government Cable Access Channel 4, the Ocean City website www.ocmdemergency.com, recorded emergency management line, 410-723-6666 and Ocean City advisory radio station 1670 AM will remain operational for further advisories.
Ocean City is expected to receive a significant impact from Hurricane Irene.

Easterly gale force winds should start affecting the area on Saturday, August 27 at 5 p.m. with hurricane-force winds arriving around 4 a.m. and lasting for a period of eight hours. The highest wind speeds from Hurricane Irene should occur near 9 a.m. when top sustained winds, from the north, could reach 90 mph with gusts near 120 mph. Winds should decrease below hurricane force shortly thereafter.

Sustained winds will fall below gale force after 3 p.m. and generally be from the north during this period of decreasing winds. Expect gusts above gale force level for several more hours thereafter.

The total rainfall for the Ocean City area over the next three days is forecast to be 9.5 inches. This can vary significantly as tropical storm and hurricane rainfall is very difficult to predict.

Storm surge is expected to be six-feet above normal high tide cycles resulting in significant flooding in low-lying areas.

Hurricane Irene

If you live in a cave maybe you haven't heard Hurricane Irene will be Affecting our area over the weekend. Evacuations of low lying areas in almost all the lower shore counties and Delaware has taken place along with a full evacuation of Ocean City. Please make sure you get prepared so nobody loses a life during this storm.

Evacuations Centers I am aware of are as follows
Wicomico County Civic Center
Washington High School

If you know of others please leave comment . I am not going to spend the day berating you with Hurricane news as I am not a meteorologist. For the latest forecast and maps I would recommend the National Weather Service here or the weather channel here. If I get press releases regarding the storm I will post.

I ask one thing when it is safe and only when it's safe, if you can get any photos of damage or weather related incidents please email me those so I can share with everyone any damage from around the area..Thank you

Also don't forget I will have a chat box up at the top of my site starting tonight for any weather reports or observations any of my readers want to share with others about what is happening around them.

Emily Suznavick has set up a Worcester County Residents FB page at https://www.facebook.com/WallyWood/posts/10150427758957575?notif_t=feed_comment_reply#!/groups/185615208174894/?notif_t=group_activity
Click to join to keep up with friends and neighbors. If you leave your home heavily tape a paper to your door giving the address of where you went and a phone # If you stay, write a note on the door listing how many people and pets are inside the house incase anything happens to you.

Motorcycle Accident On 13 to 50 bypass?

hearing a big accident involving motorcycles has just occurred.

Somerset County Calling Residents

Reverse 911 is calling homes in Somerset County. The  Commissioners want all people in low lying areas to evacuate to shelters.

Mandatory Evacuations Declared in Worcester County

Mandatory Evacuations Declared in Worcester County

Worcester County Government has ordered a mandatory evacuation no later than Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. in the following areas: all properties in the West Ocean City Sanitary Service Area (east of Herring Creek and north of Old Bridge Road); all properties east of MD Route 611 (Stephen Decatur Highway); and all properties in South Point (both sides of South Point Road). This includes the communities of Cape Isle of Wight, West Ocean City, Mystic Harbour, Snug Harbor, Assateague Point, Frontier Town Camp Ground, Castaways and others.

No sewer service will be available in the West Ocean City Sanitary Service Area beginning Saturday afternoon.

Furthermore, the County Commissioners strongly recommend evacuation of the following areas: all waterfront properties throughout Worcester County, due to flooding, and all occupants of mobile homes due to the arrival of hurricane force winds and gusts of 100 miles per hour beginning Saturday and continuing through Sunday morning.

County shelters will open at 5:00 p.m. tonight, August 26, 2011. These shelters include Stephen Decatur High School, Stephen Decatur Middle School (SDMS), Snow Hill High School and Pocomoke High School (PHS).

Residents are encouraged to seek shelter with family and friends outside the area, if possible. Shelters will be crowded and should be sought as a last resort. Cots will not be available at general shelters, so those planning to reside in these facilities are urged to bring pillows, comforters, medical supplies and other needed items.

Pet friendly shelters include SDMS, PHS and Worcester County Animal Control. Domestic animals, dogs, cats and ferrets, may be housed at these locations. Those seeking shelter for their pets at either SDMS or PHS must remain at the facility where their animal is housed. The following items are needed to house pets at any of the pet-friendly shelters: carriers, food and water, which are mandatory for all pets; proof of vaccination, pet litter, litter pans and medications as needed.

Further county advisories and actions for Hurricane Irene will be announced as more information becomes available, including the possibility of mandatory evacuations in areas currently being recommended for evacuation.

Do not call 911. These lines are strictly for emergencies. For additional emergency information, call the information line at (410) 632-2751 or visit www.co.worcester.md.us.

CakeArt is ready

County Schools Already Planning To Be Closed Monday

I have heard rumors that County Schools are already planning on being closed Monday.

What is Your Biggest Weather Concern For The Weekend?

Wicomico County Evacuation Orders

EXECUTIVE POLLITT ORDERS EVACUATION OF SEGMENTS OF WICOMICO COUNTY NEAR RIVERS IN ANTICIPATION OF AFFECTS OF HURRICANE IRENE

For Immediate Release
Salisbury, MD
August 26, 2011

County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr. has issued a Declaration of Emergency for Wicomico County in anticipation of hurricane/tropical-storm strength winds and torrential rains that may begin in the county on August 27th as a result of Hurricane Irene. Mr. Pollitt urged citizens to NOT call 911 for hurricane-related information. He asks that citizens call a special “Hurricane Hotline” instead. That number is 410-548-9452.

After consultation with local emergency and public health personnel, Pollitt ordered the evacuation of segments of the county near the Nanticoke and Wicomico Rivers as part of the general Order. “While I know that it is greatly inconvenient to be evacuated,” emphasized Pollitt; “the experts have impressed upon me the real threat that the effects of this storm present to our county. There could be flooding up to 5 feet in lower areas; high winds and heavy rains upon saturated grounds could cause trees to fall on houses and roads. People on the wrong side of the flooding could become inaccessible to rescue workers should rescue be required. In brief, if Irene lives up to her expectations, we need to take every necessary precaution.”

Evacuation Details

----Residents of the following areas are ordered to begin evacuating at 10:00 A.M. today and to complete the process by 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, August 27th. Tropical-force winds are anticipated to begin at about 4:00 P.M. on Saturday.

Areas in Wicomico County:
ZIP CODES: All of 21840 (Nanticoke Post Office)
All of 21814 (Bivalve Post Office)
All of 21865 (Tyaskin Post Office)
21856 West of Nebo Road (Quantico Post Office)
21830 West of Athol Rd. (Hebron Post Office)
21822 North and West of Upper Ferry Road (Allen Post Office)
21837(Mardela Post Office) AND

21861 (Sharptown Post Office) North and West of Sharptown Road Only

Areas In the City of Salisbury
Riverside Dr. from Douglas Rd. to Cooper Road on the West side of Riverside Drive.
Williams Landing Place, Wicomico St. (west of Riverside Dr.), Beauchamp St., Georgia Ave (west of Riverside Dr.) Ridge Road, N. Pinehurst on the Wicomico river side, Riverside Pines Court.
Cotton Patch Island, Bell Island Trail, Fitzwater Street,

King Street, Ford Street, Birch Street, Burton Street, Willow Street, W. Main Street between Mill Street and Fitzwater Street, Germania Circle,
Kent Ave, Queen Anne Street, Jefferson Street, Caroline Street, Dover Street, Liberty Street, Homer Street, Edgemore Avenue, Alexander Ave, Bowl Drive, Raymond Drive.
Anchorage Nursing Home

----Besides alerts from the news media, affected residents will be notified by a pre-recorded phone call and loudspeaker announcements from fire and police vehicles.

Shelter

----Citizens are urged to seek shelter with friends/relatives or at a motel or hotel. If this is not possible, shelter is available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD. The shelter opens at 10:00 A.M. today and is pet-accommodating.

----If citizens use the Civic Center shelter, it is suggested that they bring these items:

• Use backpack etc.
• Special items for infant, elderly or disabled members of the household
• A change of clothes (several changes)
• List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
• Copy of health insurance and identification cards
• Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Waterless hand soap
• Games, books etc.
• Baby food & diapers
• Toiletries
(Moist towelettes, toilet paper, garbage bags & ties for personal sanitation)
• “Go-Kit” for your pets/service animals (food, crate, medical records, ID tags, leash, etc.)
•
• Blankets or sleeping bags for each person
• Prescription medications

• Special items for infant (baby food/diapers) , elderly or disabled members of the household
• Important Papers (Easy to access)
• Flashlights
• Identification

Closings

----Upper Ferry and the Whitehaven Ferry will not operate on Saturday and Sunday. Citizens are urged to check the Ferry Hotline 410-543-2765.
----The Landfill and transfer stations will close at noon on Saturday and will be closed on Sunday.

In issuing the Emergency Order, Mr. Pollitt said, “Our county staff has all plans in place for the protection of our citizens if this weather event becomes as challenging as anticipated. I fully realize that being ordered to leave one’s home is truly disturbing. On the other hand, preventing risky rescue operations as a result of high winds and flooding is well worth it. I know the citizens of Wicomico County will rise to meet this difficult situation just as have our dedicated employees.”

###

Released by Jim Fineran, Wicomico County PIO
410-548-1974
jfineran@wicomicocounty.org