From Harford County government:
Harford County government continues to support recovery efforts following the impact of Hurricane Sandy. The Division of Emergency Operations (EOC) is partially activated at Level I staffing and continues to help facilitate the county’s response and recovery efforts.
As of 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2012, there were approximately 14,000 BGE customers still without electricity. Additionally, BGE reported more than 51,000 customers have had power restored. Delmarva Power reports approximately 500 customers without power as of Wednesday morning. At the height of the storm approximately 2,800 Delmarva Power customers had lost electricity.
With respect to road conditions, there are 43 county roads that are closed due to storm related debris, fallen trees or downed power lines. At the height of the storm Tuesday there were 57 roads closed. Additionally, the majority of the intersections in the county which are controlled by traffic signals are now operational.
One of the major concerns of Harford County fire and EMS personnel is the potential health risk of the improper use of portable generators. Two individuals were transported from a single family dwelling in Joppa, Maryland Tuesday night as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Another subject received treatment at a medical facility from alleged carbon monoxide poisoning at his place of employment.
As a remainder, portable generators should not be operated inside dwellings, garages, or businesses and should be located at a safe distance from structures to avoid carbon monoxide fumes from entering structures. Failure to follow manufacturer instructions and safety guidelines could result in serious carbon monoxide health issues or even death.
Officials with Exelon Power, operators of the Conowingo Dam, advise the dam currently has one gate open and may open as many as five gates on the dam later today. At the present time there is no danger of flooding to area residents downstream from the dam.
With respect to Halloween, County Executive David R. Craig states there are no plans to cancel or curtail “Trick or Tricking” in the County.
“For those parents with young children who plan to “trick or treat” this Halloween we recommend they exercise caution due to many areas in the county that still have significant storm debris,” County Executive Craig said. “Children should always be accompanied by parents or adults, use flashlights and avoid areas that are still without electricity and may present hazards related to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy,” Craig remarked.
The Harford County Division of Emergency Operations will continue to staff the Harford County “Hot-Line” until 4:00 p.m. today. The “Hot-Line” 410-838-5800, will also be staffed Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Citizens with routine or non-emergency related questions or concerns related to Hurricane Sandy are encouraged to call the “Hot-Line” for assistance.
“The clean-up and recovery from Hurricane Sandy will continue for several days. We appreciate the patience of our citizens as we work to clear roads, support the utility companies in their efforts to restore power and return Harford County to state of normalcy,” said County Executive Craig.
Harford County Government to Open Thursday
Harford County Executive David R. Craig has announced that Harford County Government will re-open on Thursday, November 1, 2012. Liberal leave will be in effect for county employees.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our citizens and employees during the past few days while county government was closed as a result of Hurricane Sandy,” said County Executive Craig. “Our focus has been the restoration and recovery of Harford County following the impact Hurricane Sandy made on our community,” Craig remarked.
The Executive Order from the County Executive – “Declaration of State of Emergency Due to Hurricane Sandy” will be lifted Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
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