UPDATED:
From Harford County government:
Harford County Government Closing at Noon
At noon today Tuesday, January 21, 2014, an Administrative Closure will go into effect for Harford County Government.
No decision has been made regarding the opening of Harford County Government on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
Harford County Council Meeting Cancelled
Harford County Council President Billy Boniface has advised the Harford County Council meeting scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, January 21, 2014 has been cancelled due to inclement weather conditions.
Harford County Public School Employees on CODE RED, Tuesday January 21
UPDATE From Harford County Public Schools:
As the school system is already closed for students [due to professional development for instructional staff] the Superintendent has announced that employees will be on a CODE RED for today.
Also:
Due to the impending snow storm, all nonpublic and out-of-county transportation has been canceled for today, Tuesday, January 21, 2014.
From Harford County government:
Arctic Blast Due to Hit Harford Area; Snow and bitter cold weather expected
The Harford County Department of Emergency Services (DES) is warning citizens of the county to prepare for another round of subfreezing temperatures and snow. The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed Harford County under a Winter Storm Warning for Tuesday, January 21, 2014. Harford County, as well as a number of adjoining counties, is expected to receive approximately four to six inches of snow, although additional accumulations are possible.
Additionally the NWS advises temperatures will drop significantly during the next 24 hours with a wind chill in the -5 to -10 degree range. Wind gusts of 25 – 30 mph are also expected throughout Tuesday. The frigid temperatures will remain through Friday, with high temperatures in the 20’s and lows in single digits.
The accumulation of snow and wind can result in snow covered slippery roads with reduced visibility. Motorists are urged to use caution during their morning and afternoon commute.
In preparation for the storm, the Harford County Department of Emergency Services will activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 5:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Harford County Emergency Manager Rick Ayers and members of the Emergency Management team will monitor the storm throughout the day.
“One of our significant concerns is the prediction of subfreezing temperatures for the next several days,” Ayers said. “Freezing temperatures pose serious health risks to the elderly, the very young and our homeless populations,” Ayers added.
In preparation for the arctic weather which will impact the region Tuesday, the Harford County Department of Emergency Services recommends the following precautionary measures:
– Ensure flashlights are in good working condition and have them readily available throughout the home and in the car.
– Keep fresh batteries available for flashlights and portable radios
– Fully charge all cell phones in the event of power outage.
– Have a three-day supply of nonperishable foods available in case of a power outage.
– Have an adequate supply of fresh water available – one gallon per person per day for three days.
– Have a first aid kit for the home and car.
– Keep blankets in vehicles to be used for warmth in the event a vehicle becomes stuck in snow for an extended period of time.
– If possible, refrain from driving during the height of the snow storm. Wait until road crews have plowed or treated roads to allow for safe travel conditions.
“The weather conditions this week may be some of the harshest of the winter, therefore we are asking people to take time to check on their neighbors, especially those with serious health conditions, to ensure their well-being,” said Emergency Manager Ayers.
For further information on emergency preparedness visit the Harford County Department of Emergency Services website at www.harfordpublicsafety.org or call 410-638-4900.
Winter Storm Warning
From Harford County government:
Good Evening, this is Emergency Manager Rick Ayers with an emergency message. Harford County has been placed under a Winter Storm Warning by the NWS (National Weather Service). Beginning late Tuesday morning we should start to see accumulating snow and this should continue through-out the day. At this time, the most likely scenario is for us to receive 4 to 6 inches; however, if the storm slows down 8 to 10 inches is a real possibility. With wind gusts expected between 25 and 30 mph, blowing snow and drifting will also be a concern for those driving during the day. Another major concern is the arctic air mass that is moving into the region. On Tuesday night the wind chill will be in the -5 to -10 degree range. The extremely cold weather will remain through at least Friday with the high temperature in the 20’s and the low’s in the single digit’s and teens. Thanks and be Safe.
State Highway Crews Prepare for Next Winter Storm; Travelers Reminded to Plan Ahead for Slow Commutes on Tuesday
From the Maryland State Highway Administration:
Another round of winter weather will soon impact the region, and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is preparing to face another storm that will affect travel statewide on Tuesday. Early forecasts predict significant snowfall tomorrow, and drivers should adjust travel plans if possible.
“Please put safety first by planning now for driving conditions tomorrow,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “We expect this storm to affect travel for most of the day, including both the morning and evening commutes. Please allow extra time and reduce speeds, especially while precipitation is still falling.”
Today, some crews began anti-icing operations along major interstates and some heavily-traveled primary routes. Emergency operations and maintenance personnel statewide will monitor the storm’s path and manage incidents from the Statewide Operations Center near BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport. Crews will salt and plow roadways as conditions change, and SHA reminds all travelers to remember these tips:
• Prepare today for tomorrow’s travel. Providing additional time and space for highway crews and law enforcement makes traveling safer for everyone.
• Emergency trucking parking will be available if weather conditions deteriorate. The map with locations is available at www.roads.maryland.gov.
• Use caution when merging at ramps and intersections, and remain alert for pedestrians and cyclists.
• If your vehicle becomes disabled, make every effort to move safely from the travel lane and onto the shoulder.
• Ensure all head and tail lights are operational – See and Be Seen. Wipers On. Lights On. It’s the Law.
• Before traveling to the airports, train stations or bus terminals, Know Before You Go! Dial 511 from a land line or mobile phone for traffic, weather alerts and road conditions. For internet access, visit www.MD511.org or www.chart.md.gov to view live traffic cameras.
If you don’t have your toilet paper, white bread, milk and eggs by now, you’re going to die.
Don’t worry, SuperObama will fly in an supply EVERYONE with free heat, free snow blowers, free gloves, free jackets, and free meal rations.
SuperObama will demand from mother nature to distribute more snow onto the wealthy as they have the means to more effectively remove it………….because SuperObama has a pen and a phone.
SuperObama, through executive fiat that global warming does exist and that we should all pay a new Global Warming Tax to be enforced by IRS and monitored by NSA through your credit card purchases, cell phone calls, emails, internet searches, chat logs, Facebook associations and mobile device usage.
Should you need to protect yourselves, you don’t need a gun or ammunition, SuperObama suggests that you SHELTER IN PLACE and wait for danger to pass or call for help and hope and prey help arrives.
I have left overs from last year.
Oh boy let the overtime roll, hope they have my truck nice and warmed up I need a nap.
That’s right Harford county no driving mother faqqers, that means take your faqing time, don’t tailgate, and don’t speed.
Insurance companies love you, and your piece of shat plastic fancy schmancey no driving stylish junker cars.
The Dagger should really consider closing comments for general notices such as this.
LPT – Don’t read the comments
Wow, I wish all businesses would follow what our trusty Government does for snow days. Just think if all hospitals, electric companies, gas companies, etc shut down and let their employees go home. I bet the Government employees get paid to sit on their lazy butts at home just like they do at work.
Wouldn’t you give yourself a paid day off if you could?
AND A RAISE
It takes little sense to realize and it has been pointed out many times before, but there are many many critical county employees (working in fields related to the ones you listed) who are still working when the government “closes”, so your comment is rendered pretty much useless and false.
Additionally, a lot of private sector employees are either sent home or allowed to take time off in an equally (more or less) easy fashion, and yes, most of them get paid to sit at home too. You just don’t hear about it in the news.
When your complaining is hollow, the echo can be heard clearly by all.
In my business, when the employee CHOSES to go home because of inclement weather, then they are to use vacation time or it is unpaid time off. Yes, many County employees do work hard during snow events and it is appreciated. How do you think they feel knowing they are out working when their fellow employees get to go their warm home WITH PAY. If Government would run like any successful business, then we would have a much more efficient and productive system.
So Mr Nobel, when you get a clue in life about running a business, then your comments will have merit. Until then, the only echo heard is the one from your hollow head.
Maybe businesses should take better care of their employees. Perhaps, asking an employee to risk their life and often livelihood to get to and from work on a day when the entire state is under snow warnings, is irrational, illogical and ultimately wasteful. The lives of your employees are worth far more than 1 day’s productivity or pay.
Agreed Mr. Burbey. They should be at home at times like this. You are still thinking like a the typical Spendocrat. Employees are not entitled to get paid for time they do not work. In fact, there is nothing stopping them from going home to be safe and sound. It is the fact that the Government thinks that everything in life is an entitlement, including getting paid for not working. How many employees would go home if they knew they would not be getting paid or if they had to use vacation time?
Just getting in a car and driving is a life risking event. I should be paid to stay home everyday it’s the only safe thing to do.
If a business isn’t doing business, where should they get the money to pay the employees?
“In my business, when the employee CHOSES to go home because of inclement weather, then they are to use vacation time or it is unpaid time off. ”
You do realize this is exactly how it works for most governments, right? If the employee chooses to go home, they use time off. If the office closes, they don’t (most of the time).
And you do also realize that part of the reason governments close is to get more cars off the streets, which has a twofold impact of making road treatment and clearing easier and reducing the strain on the EMS government employees who are still working, right? And that both of these things going easier actually helps save the government money?
They don’t do it for the fun of a snow day.
Now, personally, if you ask me, I’d say that Harford County govt has been closing a little… easy…this year, just when we happen to have a CE who’s running for governor…
I actually know of several friends and relatives who work for local businesses who were sent home earlier today by their bosses or some told not to even come in with no repercussions….they still got paid for the day and didn’t have to use a vacation day!! so not all businesses are run by Scrooge! not all businesses(successful or unsuccessful) are run like yours! I kinda wish the govt would do that for their employees sometimes….although im coming from the EMS side of it….
As the real Concerned Citizen (above posts are not mine), I will soon be venturing out in the weather to get to my job as hospitals never close. Its a mindset change – you just need to dress warmer, leave earlier, drive slower and be courteous to other drivers and the snow plows. I’ll be thinking of all the county employees and school personnel who are sitting at home dipping their warm cocoa.Absolutely no sympathy here when I hear them complain about their lack of raises and having to pay a little more for their health bebefits and retirement. That’s the real world, just like going to my job today despite the weather.
Sorry Sir, but I am the original “Concerned Citizen” on this site and have been using this ID for a few years. However, it is good to know that you thinking correctly when making a responsible reply on here. Thanks for your efforts to keep our hospitals functioning during the bad weather.
Sympathy, empathy, whatever so long so you get to make your selfish entitled point that you are more important than anyone else so your rights are paramount and should be heeded with the respect you feel you deserve. NOT. Go to work and do your job. There will be no fanfare for you or parade when the weather warms. Get over yourself.
Just don’t fall out there “Because” and break anything. I might not want to take care of your sorry …..
The milk of human kindness flows profusely from your every orifice. And you are supposed to be in a medical profession? We can certainly do without your kind.
He is my kind of professional…..not afraid to say what he and others think. We need more of his kind!
Many county employees are working through the storm and some of us volunteer to cover shifts because overtime is a plus we don’t usually get. In addition, we will get another time off as compensatory since the closing is administrative in nature. The more it snows, the more I make. Love this job!
Like me you are obviously someone important the county need in times of emergency. Who knew hanging out on the dagger during such harrowing events would pay so well?
Gee, you must be working really hard during this snow storm. You actually have time to surf the internet and reply to comments on here. Our tax dollars paying lazy employees overtime to waste time. I love this Government!
My shift starts at 6 pm. Let me know which street you live in so that I can pile the snow at your driveway so you can see just how hard I do work!
I don’t have access or would actually post anything on the Dagger while at work. Unlike your desktop, ours are monitored by the lovely IT department. I have better things to do during my work ours that to exchange stupid comments with ingrates and morons at the Dagger. You guys are pretty brave in your mom’s basement…
Concerned Citizen: giving and address Is not wise. I Turned in and Arsonist, he found my address. and payed me a visit.
Not sure why I comment on this forum, as there are only a few rational thinkers on here, including my compadre, Original Concerned Citizen. Call it a guilty pleasure, if you will, but it also gives me the opportunity to express my true beliefs without retribution. The world, including our little Podunk county, are full of insecure, petty, and unstable individuals who will resort to personal attack if your opinions differ from theirs.
I have traveled abroad rendering humanitarian care to others, sometimes in places where disagreeing with the government could cause you bodily harm.
I am not that old but find that over the years I have become a great deal more conservative, not because I am “selfish,” “greedy,” “privileged, ” etc. But rather, because much of our “system” seems to be breeding a culture of people who are whiners and complainers, where nothing is ever good enough for them when they really don’t know how fortunate they are, and still others whose only way of life is to suck off the labor of others. I’m just so tired of it. Maybe I should change my pot name to “Because I Care.”
I meant post name.
find the dagger kind of interesting and kind of annoying at the same time, sort of like a train wreck… can’t help but look? Courtesy towards others seems to be missing here. Insinuating that some are commenting while at work and others calling them lazy just doesn’t seem to make much senses. You are right! I feel like while the county is closed that EMS, fire, police and public works are still doing their part to bring the system back to normal. I don’t see how a decision to close the local govt has anything to do with the people that actually provide the service and I don’t know why calling them lazy is warranted! At the same time, if you are a county employee, one could be a little thick skinned as there will be some that always feel like their tax money is not being spent properly. Still, I feel like some people just like to push the buttons and others are willing to be bothered by less that educated comments by others whose purpose here is to stoke the fire sort of speak.
I hope you all are happy. I chose not to go to work and was fired.