A Note From State Delegate Cathy Vitale on Hurricane Irene's Arrival

Hurricane Irene is expected to hit our area sometime tomorrow evening as forecasters have been advising. There are several items of information that I wish to share with the residents of our area.  

Please make sure you have taken steps to clean gutters and remove or secure loose items around the exterior of your property which may be blown about if the winds reach the expected 35 to 45 miles per hour and gusts of 50 to 55 miles. 

Rain is expected at 3 to 6 inches, so standing water may also be a problem. Fallen trees are expected to be a problem. 

Homeowners are responsible for trees which fall on their property. If a tree from the County right of way falls into the road, please contact the County, they will remove the tree from the road to keep passage possible. 

If a homeowner's tree falls into the road, please call the County, they will remove the tree from the property, but will put it onto the property for later removal by the homeowner.  

If homeowners need assistance, call the Emergency Operations Center at 410-222-0600. If homeowners need assistance with hurricane damage, you can call 410-468-2340 to the Maryland Insurance Administration. The BG&E emergency number is 410-685-0123  

If you are driving in the following areas, you should be careful as they have, in the past, had a standing water problem. (Please remember that there is no way to know how deep water is, and it is best not to drive through.)

Go around: Generals Highway from Crownsville to Annapolis Rockbridge Road, Patuxent River Road, Arundel Beach Road (lower portion beyond Whitehurst), Rt. 468, and other areas of South County, Deale, and Shadyside.  

In addition to calling the above numbers, our office will do its best to assist. Please call 410-544-4937 or my cell 410-991-3425.  

Thanks,

Delegate Cathy Vitale

* We will also be monitoring our phone 410-841-3510 as best we can.