The Washington Derecho Update by Delegate Mary Washington
(BALTIMORE - June 30, 2012) - WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Last night and into the early hours of this morning, the region experienced a meteorological phenomenon known as a derecho. For those who have never heard the term before, a derecho is a very powerful and long lived storm that often produces straight line winds on par with that of a hurricane. The storm rocked the Mid-Atlantic region toppling trees and leaving close to 1.5 Million residents without power.
To learn more about derechos, please visit the following link:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm
Lots of people are working very hard to address the needs of residents during this extremely difficult time. Knowing this cannot substitute for the comfort you need and deserve, but I offer it and the information below in hopes that it will help you as we work together through the heat advisory and the aftermath of the storm damage. This is what we know and what the City & State officials are doing to assist:
POWER
As of early this afternoon, there 94,206 BGE customers without power. However restorations have begun and 21,839 customers have had their power restored Citizens should Call BG&E at 877-778-2222 to report power outages or downed lines. Exercise extreme caution and stay away from downed wires. PLEASE, PLEASE do not attempt to clear debris near cut or hanging powerlines—this is very dangerous.
STORM FORECAST
BGE is anticipating the possibility of further outages in the event of additional storms this afternoon. Currently the National Weather Service is predicting a 30% chance of isolated storms throughout the afternoon.
SENIORS & PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SUPPORT
City and State staff are checking in on all senior centers and providing water and ice as needed. Homebound seniors should call senior centers for assistance and/or 311 or 911 to coordinate assistance (SEE LIST BELOW). If you know of someone that has no phone service, please knock on their door and ask them if you can call for them. The City will have someone come out to check on them.
Generally all City staff, police and fire are acting in a support capacity and can be contacted directly for any and all emergencies by call 911—please emergencies only. For less urgent concerns please continue to use 311.
WATER & CHARGING LOCATIONS
Code Red shelters are now open for residents who may need to get to a place to charge phones, get cool, get water, etc or seek help for a neighbor or family member homebound.
**Ice not available
LIST OF CODE RED AND SENIOR CENTERS:
Here are the locations where citizens can go to charge phones, get water and ice, etc. The Reisterstown Road facility is without power so citizens should go to the Zeta Center.
CODE RED LOCATIONS
War Memorial Building
101 N. Gay St.
(443)-867-5545
Southern Community Action Center
606 Cherry Hill Road (inside the shopping center 2nd floor)
(410) 545-0900
Southeastern Community Action Center
3411 Bank Street
(410) 545-6510
Eastern Community Action Center
1400 E. Federal Street
(410)396-9468
SENIOR CENTERS
Waxter Center for Senior Citizens
1000 Cathedral Street
(410) 396-1324
Oliver Center
1700 Gay Street
(410) 396-4861
Sandtown-Winchester Senior Center
1601 N. Baker Street
(410) 396-7724
Hatton Center
2825 Fait Avenue
(410) 396-9025
Zeta Center
4501 Reisterstown Rd.
(410) 396-3535
RECREATION CENTERS
Walter P. Carter
820 E.43rd St
410-396-6217
Mary E. Rodman
3600 W. Mulberry St
410-396-0477
Chick Webb
623 Eden St.
410-396-7593
Ella Bailey
100 E. Heath St.
410-396-4634
James McHenry
911 Hollins St.
410-396-5016
Locust Point
1627 E. Fort Ave
410-837-4423
Mount Royal
120 W. Mosher St.
410-396-0374
Furley
4633 Furley Ave
410-396-9329
Robert C. Marshall
1201 Pennsylvania Ave
410-728-3271
FOOD SAFETY
In the event of a prolonged power outage, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
TREES & ROADS
Baltimore City Recreation and Parks is reporting 332 trees are currently downed and impeding traffic. Baltimore Police Department is assisting Rec and Parks to determine accuracy and prioritization. BGE has over 1,000 reports of power lines down, and stoplights remain dark throughout the city. Signal techs are responding to place stop signs at intersections without power. Drivers and bicyclists are asked to treat broken signals as a four way stop. Additionally, there are a number of neighborhood street lights that are out. The heaviest hit areas appear to be Northern Pkwy from York Rd eastward, and from Bel Air Ave and Frankfort Ave to Kenwood Ave. As of early this afternoon, 28 signals are still out, 14 with temporary stops, and 8 under generator power.
WHERE TO TAKE STORM TRASH
Residences with storm damaged bulk debris may go to any of DPW's five citizen drop-off locations (noted below), or call 311 to request a special solid waste clean-up.
The closest drop-off station for 43rd Disrtrict is the Northwest Sanitation Yard location in between 28th and 29th Streets on Sisson Street (2840 Sisson Street, phone number: 410-396-6070).
Other Resident Drop-off Locations:
6100 Quarantine Road
410-396-3772
Western Sanitation Yard
701 Reedbird Avenue
410-396-3367
Eastern Sanitation Yard
6101 Bowleys Lane
410-396-9950
Northwest Sanitation Yard
2840 Sisson Street
410-396-6070
Northwest Transfer Station
5030 Reisterstown Road
410-396-2706
I know this is a very difficult, painful and frustrating time for many. We are all asking for your continued patience for this unprecedented constellation of challenges to our infrastructure and the need to prioritize vulnerable populations and public safety concerns. Again, if you or someone you know needs help call or stop by one of the CODE RED or SENIOR CENTERS below:
Please be safe and take care,
Mary L. Washington, Delegate, 43rd Legislative District.
