On Monday evening City Council approved a request to reschedule GrooveFEST: Blues, Brews & BBQs to the weekend of October 20/21. The Street festival will now be held on SUNDAY, October 21st 1pm – 6pm and the kick off event is being scheduled for SATURDAY, October 20th. For more information about these events click here!
Meanwhile Dorchester County and the City of Cambridge are busy preparing for the impacts of Hurricane Florence. We encourage all citizens to sign up for City and County notifications and prepare in advance for power outages, severe flooding, and limited road access. Please check on any relatives and secure any items that could blow or float away in a severe weather event.
A statement from Dorchester emergency planners said, “If you would like to register to receive alerts directly you can sign up at: http://www.dorchestercountymd.com/ go to button that says ‘Sign up for Emergency Alerts’” (DIRECT LINK: https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736724055#/login).
If you are in a life threatening situation, call 911. To report flooded roadways or downed trees, call 410-228-2222.
A statement from the Cambridge city government included information applicable to all county residents. “Residents are being encouraged to make a plan, make a kit, stay informed and ‘Know Your Zone,’” the message said.
- MAKE A PLAN: Despite the uncertain path of Florence, there are a number of preventative measures residents can begin now to ensure the safety of their families and neighbors, as well as the protection of property. You can access a list of suggestions at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
- MAKE A KIT: You may have thought ahead and purchased supplies, but do you have a manual can opener to use your canned foods if electricity is out? How about a deck of cards to keep your family occupied? Or, emergency medical supplies? You can find a great list at www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.
- STAY INFORMED: Residents are urged to register for Emergency Alerts on the Dorchester County website, or at https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736724055#/login. They will go through a simple registration process, which will allow them to receive text message or email alerts from Dorchester County Emergency Services. This registration information is private and will only be used to report important emergency information. Information will also be shared on the Facebook pages of Dorchester County Dept. Emergency Services and City of Cambridge Facebook pages as it becomes available.
- KNOW YOUR ZONE: MEMA’s prepared evacuation zones can be found at https://mema.maryland.gov/Pages/know-your-zone-md.aspx. Residents are urged to know which zone in which they reside, as evacuation due to storm surge may reference these zones. Evacuations may include other areas outside of these zones if rain-related flooding or other safety concerns require it, but understanding your proximity to these zones may be important.
Prepare yourself (lots of information at ready.gov)
– take pictures of your property this week, and document what you have on hand.
– Remove anything outside that can become blown away and be dangerous (trash cans, planters, etc.)
– Move things away from the windows and doors.
Dorchester County and city officials have declared a state of emergency in Maryland ahead of the landfall of Hurricane Florence. By midday Tuesday, the storm was projected to come ashore in North Carolina on Thursday. Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in Maryland on Monday.
Tropical storm-force winds, heavy rain, fresh water and storm surge flooding will affect a wide area of the mid-Atlantic coast, including the Delmarva Peninsula. Dorchester County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Garvin said, “It could be catastrophic, depending on which way it turns.”
Potential impact
Dorchester’s declaration took effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated as well, putting teams in place to prepare for and respond to Florence and her impact.
“At this time, there is still some uncertainty about the track of this storm and its potential impact, but we are preparing for any possible outcome, including the potential of historic, catastrophic, and life-threatening flooding in Maryland,” Gov. Hogan said. “Our state is taking every precaution, and I urge all Marylanders to do the same. Stay tuned to your local news stations for the latest updates, listen to state and local authorities, and most importantly, use common sense.”
Dangerous conditions
Weather forecasters have indicated that there is the potential for life-threatening conditions, including catastrophic flooding as well as high winds and dangerous conditions in our waterways. Current forecasts indicate that torrential rains, tropical storm force winds, and tidal flooding/storm surge could impact the state beginning as early as Thursday.
The state’s Emergency Operations Center Response Level has been elevated, and the center is fully staffed with emergency management personnel and state agency representatives.
The state of emergency allows the governor to access critical resources to increase the state’s response, including the Maryland National Guard. It also allows Maryland to receive assistance from other states as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This compact serves as the cornerstone of the nation’s mutual aid system and offers assistance and aid during states of emergency through member states.
“Dorchester County is vulnerable to flooding and heavy rainfall events. We encourage all residents and visitors to our county to closely monitor local television and radio, and make sure you only use trusted social media like official government accounts for the most updated information.” Director of Emergency Services Anna Sierra said Tuesday morning.
‘Remain alert’
“A state of emergency is a good indicator that residents should remain alert and follow officials’ orders, news stations, and weather forecasts in order to be informed of the situation,” said MEMA’s Executive Director, Russell Strickland. “We encourage all residents and visitors to our State to visit www.KnowYourZoneMD.com to see if they are inside, or if they are traveling to, a hurricane evacuation zone,” he added.
Gov. Hogan has directed state agencies to stand ready to respond to the effects of this storm, including the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). For more information, residents can also go to MEMA’s website at mema.maryland.gov, follow MEMA’s Twitter feed at @MDMEMA, or follow MEMA’s Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/MDMEMA.
