It’s Hurricane And Summer Storm Season! Are You Ready?

Our main theme for today’s 101 Days of Summer Safety is Storm Preparedness. This is especially important in light of the potential for significant storms this weekend (see graphic below).

Please take a moment to review the important information, via our partners in safety at the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, on what to do before, during and after a Hurricane or summer storm.

Also take a moment to sign up for Alert Montgomery, Montgomery County’s emergency warning system, to receive important notifications of weather watches, warnings and other emergency information. Go here to sign up: https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov

Storm Preparedness Tips:

Before a Storm

·         Build an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes such items as non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries.

·         Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.

·         Continually monitor the media (radio, TV or internet) – Be aware of storms which could impact your area.

·         Know how you will be warned in an emergency…Alert Montgomery, (NOAA Weather radios with a tone alert are a good option)

·         Ensure your home is ready. Bring in or secure outdoor items that could become projectiles in high wind.

·         Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in anticipation of a power outage. Open the door only when necessary and close quickly. Frozen food in a half-full freezer should remain safe for up to 24 hours, and in a full freezer, up to 48 hours.

During a Storm

·         Follow instructions and emergency advice from County officials or heed shelter or evacuation requests made through announcements on radio/television.

·         Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of light or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

·         Blowing debris or the sound of an approaching tornado may alert you. Tornado danger signs include a dark, almost greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark, low-lying cloud or a loud roar, similar to a freight train.

·         Gather family members, bring pets indoors and have your emergency supply kit ready.

·         Close outside doors and window blinds, shades or curtains. Close all interior doors. Stay away from doors, windows and exterior walls. Stay in a shelter location (small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level) until the danger has passed.

·         During lightning, do not use wired telephones, touch electrical appliances or use running water. Cordless or cellular telephones are safe to use.

·         During a power outage use flashlights and battery-powered lanterns for light. Avoid using candles which pose a fire risk.

·         Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as personal cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill a bathtub or other large container with the water. This is particularly important for those whose water runs off of an electrical system.

·         If your residence could flood, store valuable and personal papers in a waterproof container.

·         Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off your feet.

·         Stay indoors and limit travel to only absolutely necessary trips. Listen to radio/television for updates. Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road – you can become stranded or trapped.

After a Storm 

·         Stay off roads to allow emergency crews to clear roads and provide emergency assistance.

·         Help injured or trapped persons. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of death or further injury.

·         Use the telephone only for emergencies.

·         Use care around downed power lines. Assume a downed wire is a live wire.

·         Watch out for overhead hazards such as broken tree limbs, wires and other debris.

·         Avoid walking into flood waters. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewerage, contain downed power lines or animals.

·         Look for hazards such as broken/leaking gas lines, damaged sewage systems, flooded electrical circuits, submerged appliances and structural damage. Leave the area if you smell gas or chemical fumes.

·         Clean everything that gets wet. For food, medicines and cosmetics; when in doubt, throw it out.

·         Make sure backup generators are well ventilated. Never use grills, generators or camping stoves indoors.

·         Call 311 (or 240-777-0311 from a cell phone or from a location outside of Montgomery County) to report downed trees on public property and for help with County services, or go to mc311.com. If wires are involved with the downed tree, if anyone is trapped, or the tree is blocking a roadway, call 9-1-1.

Remember to follow our 101 Days of Summer Safety on our various social media platforms using #mcfrsSOS

Update: 240 Intersections w/o Traffic Lights; Partial List of Primary Intersections w/o Working Stoplights

From ALERT MONTGOMERY below: 


Approx. 240 Intersections w/o Traffic Lights; Obey 4-Way Stop Rules and Drive with Caution. 

As of 5:30AM, there are approximately 240 intersections without working stoplights in Montgomery County. As a reminder, treat ALL intersections without a working stoplight as a four-way stop.

-Allow extra time for your commute and plan on delays.
-Proceed with caution ONLY when traffic permits.
-Enter intersections only when it is safe to do so, using turn signals to let other motorists know your intentions.
-Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
-Be alert for police officers directing traffic.

A partial listing of primary intersections without working stoplights include:

-Connecticut Ave(MD185) & Randolph Rd
-Connecticut Ave(MD185) & Veirs Mill Rd(MD586)
-Cabin John Pkwy & Mac Arthur Blvd
-Colesville Rd(US29) & University Blvd E(MD193) (Four Corners)
-Columbia Blvd & Georgia Ave(MD97) & Seminary Rd
-Forest Glen Rd & Forest Glen Rd(MD192) & Georgia Ave(MD97)
-Jones Bridge Rd & Rockville Pike(MD355)
-River Rd(MD190) & Wilson Ln(MD188)
-Little Falls Pkwy & River Rd(MD190)
-Democracy Blvd & & Old Georgetown Rd(MD187)
-E Gude Dr & Frederick Rd(MD355) & W Gude Dr

Sent to Montgomery County Severe Traffic (24 hrs), Montgomery County Severe Traffic 6am-10am/3pm-8pm (E-mail accounts, Cell phones) through Alert Montgomery

It’s National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

Bet you did not know that National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is this week, April 22 to April 28. 

I am positive most of you have seen, read, or heard about several very significant severe weather situations that have devastated various parts of the US over the last couple of weeks.  While there was some very tragic, and mostly unavoidable, loss of life during a few of these storms, we also know many more were saved due to the fact they PREPARED for the emergency before it happened.  They knew what to do and how to do it!

We know that severe weather CAN happen here.  Please take a moment to go here, Severe Weather , to learn more.  Also, please watch the below video from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

Latest Update on Conditions

* All Montgomery County Recreation facilities are closed today except for the Upper County Neighborhood, Germantown, East County Neighborhood and Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Centers and the Germantown Indoor and Olney Swim Centers. All other Montgomery County Recreation sites are closed, including the main administrative office.
* All Montgomery County Recreation summer camps, summer fun centers and Recreation summer classes are cancelled for today

* Montgomery College Rockville campus will be closed today. Takoma Park and Germantown campuses will be open.

* All activities in Montgomery County Public School buildings are canceled on Monday, July 26, due to widespread power outages. This includes all academic programs, summer camps, recreation programs and summer meals.

* Montgomery County’s Permitting Services will be closed to the public (255 Rockville Pike facility).

* About 187,000 Pepco customers in Montgomery County remain without power.

* 270 County traffic signals remain without power.

* Don't travel if you don't need to.

* Treat all dark intersections as four-way stops. Proceed cautiously.

* A shelter is open at the East County Recreation Center located at 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring.

* Mandatory water restrictions remain in effect for all Montgomery County and Prince Georges County residents on public water systems until water supplies are recharged. This includes Rockville residents. Residents on private wells are unaffected by the mandatory water restrictions.

* Residents and businesses are urged to use water only for essential indoor uses so sufficient water will be available for hospitals, emergency services and fire fighting.

* The County’s 311 call center has been activated and is available for non-emergency calls.

* To report “hot” wires or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, call 9-1-1.

* Residents can report downed trees in the public right-of-way by calling 3-1-1 from within Montgomery County or 240-777-0311 from outside the County.

* Residents are urged to check on their neighbors, particularly seniors or those with special needs.

* Pepco has indicated this will be a "multi-day restoration."

Check www.montgomerycountymd.gov for updated information on Montgomery County facilities, services, and programs.

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SUMMER STORM ALERT UPDATE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY

A major storm has knocked out power to more than 200,000 Pepco customers in Montgomery County and left nearly a third of the County’s traffic signals without power. A number of trees throughout the County are down, some closing roads. Pepco has indicated this will be a "multi-day restoration."

Montgomery County and the American Red Cross will open a shelter at midnight tonight at the East County Recreation Center located at 3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring.

Mandatory water restrictions have been imposed for all Montgomery County and Prince Georges County residents on public water systems because of a power outage at the Potomac Pumping Station, which provides about two-thirds of Montgomery County’s water. Residents and businesses are urged to use water only for essential indoor uses so sufficient water will be available for hospitals, emergency services and fire fighting.

Water customers should:

• Stop all outside water use – no watering lawns, no washing cars, no topping off swimming pools
• Use water only as necessary – i.e., shorter showers and turn off faucets after washing hands  
• Limit toilet flushings (do not flush after every use)
• Limit washing machine and dishwasher use (wash full loads only)

The County has activated its 311 call center for non-emergency calls. Residents can report downed trees in the public right-of-way.

All Montgomery County Parks and Recreation programs are cancelled for tomorrow, Monday, July 26, including, classes, camps and activities.

• For emergency assistance, call 911.
• Don't travel if you don't need to. Treat all dark intersections as four-way stops. Proceed cautiously.
• Call Pepco at 1-877-737-2662 to report outages.

Ride On will operate on Monday, as will trash and recycling collections. These operations could be delayed due to traffic signal power outages.

Check www.montgomerycountymd.gov for updated information on Montgomery County facilities, services, and programs.

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