Harford County Schools, Government Closed Monday; State Highway Administration Prepares for Overnight Ice

From Harford County government:

Harford County Sacked by Wintery Mix of Snow and Ice; Citizens urged to make preparations in the event of power outages

Harford County sustained a combination of snow and ice on Sunday, December 8, 2013, which caught some by surprise. The forecast calls for a wintery mix of snow, sleet and ice to cover most of Harford County during the next 24 hours.

“Preparation is essential to effectively meet the challenges of a significant weather event,” said Harford County Emergency Manager Rick Ayers. “The Harford County Department of Emergency Services recommends the public take appropriate precautions in the event of downed power lines and loss of electricity,” Ayers stated.

The Harford County Department of Emergency Services recommends citizens prepare for this extended winter weather event by taking the following actions:

• Use flashlights – not candles in the event of the interruption of electric service

• Maintain a supply of fresh batteries for flashlights and portable radios

• Use portable battery powered radios to check current weather conditions

• Keep cell phones fully charged

• Maintain a supply of non-perishable food items in the home

• Make sure there are ample blankets to help keep warm in the event of the temporary loss of heat in the home

• Avoid cooking or preparing meals indoors using a bar-be-que. Not only is this a fire hazard, but a health hazard as well

• If possible delay driving until roads are clear of snow and ice

• Maintain a safety kit, including road flares, flashlight and blankets in a car or truck in the event the vehicle becomes stuck in snow or ice

• Due to subfreezing temperatures the possibility of frostbite exits. Watch for signs of frostbite which includes loss of feeling and white or pale extremities. If frostbite is suspected, seek medical attention immediately.

The winter storm which traveled through Maryland dropped as much as seven inches
of snow in some areas of Harford County. Additionally, roads remain snow covered, icy and slippery.

The Harford County 911 Center dispatched approximately 154 calls for service during the height of the storm, between 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday. More than three dozen of those calls were for motor vehicle accidents related to the weather.

The Harford County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will remain staffed throughout this winter weather event.

For further information on storm preparedness, visit the Harford County Department of Emergency Services website at www.harfordpublicsafety.org.

From Harford County government:

Harford County Government Closed Monday

Harford County Government will be closed Monday, December 9, 2013 due to inclement weather and hazardous driving conditions throughout the county.

Harford County Transit Link Not Operating Monday

Harford County Transit Link will not be operating Monday, December 9, 2013 due to the inclement weather and hazardous driving conditions.
Harford Transit Link previously advised they would commence operations at 10:00 a.m., but will not be operating as previously indicated.

Harford Waste Disposal Center at Scarboro Opens on Monday

The Harford Waste Disposal Center at Scarboro will open at 10:00am on Monday, December 9, 2013.

As previously announced, all other Harford County Government offices are closed on Monday due to the inclement weather. Harford Transit Link will not operate on Monday.

From Harford County Public Schools:

Harford County Public Schools will be CLOSED tomorrow, Monday, December 9, employees CODE RED.
The Board of Education meeting scheduled for this evening at 5:30 p.m. has also been cancelled.

From the Maryland State Highway Administration:

MARYLAND STATE HIGHWAY PREPARES FOR POTENTIAL ICE THROUGHOUT NIGHT; EARLY MORNING TOMORROW

(December 8, 2013 at 4:15 p.m.) – With the heaviest snow moving out of the State, SHA crews are turning their attention to sleet and freezing rain, which will continue to make driving conditions hazardous.

“With the persistence of dedicated crews, we are seeing bare pavement on most roads in the metropolitan area. Driving conditions are still very dangerous – and the best advice is not to drive if at all possible,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “Our fear is that drivers will see the clear roadway, and become less cautious. Ice is difficult for drivers to detect and much more difficult to treat than snow.”

From the Emergency Operations Center, the Maryland State Highway Administration is monitoring and managing storm response throughout the State. More than 1,800 trucks are plowing and applying salt to the State’s numbered routes. Crews will continue to treat roadways throughout the night and early morning. Many counties now have snow emergency plans in effect: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Washington. Disabled vehicles and crashes continue to plaque roadways throughout the State – for a complete listing of current incidents visit md511.org or chart.state.md.us.

In addition to plows and dump trucks, additional emergency traffic patrols are on duty to assist disabled vehicles and manage roadway incidents. Additionally heavy duty tow trucks are positioned around the State to assist disabled heavy trucks.

OVERNIGHT ICING COULD MAKE MORNING COMMUTE HAZARDOUS

(December 8, 2013 at 9:00 p.m.) – An ice storm is forecast from the I-95 corridor to the west, which will likely cause driving issues Monday morning. SHA crews will be out in force salting as needed overnight.

One of the primary issues reported by SHA plow drivers after the snow had ended was motorists traveling far too fast for the conditions. Speed limits are set for optimal driving conditions. Please keep speeds down, stay in control of the vehicle and allow SHA crews plenty of space to do their work.

“While SHA crews will remain out overnight, any ice on the roads is dangerous and we ask motorists to avoid travel overnight and into Monday morning if possible,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “While every effort will be made to keep SHA’s roads clear of ice, it only takes a small area of ice to lose control of a vehicle. PLEASE keep your speeds down if you must travel. ”

From the Emergency Operations Center, the Maryland State Highway Administration continues monitoring and managing storm response throughout the State. For a complete listing of current incidents visit www.md511.org or www.chart.state.md.us.

Ramps, bridges and overpasses freeze first, so drivers should remain on guard at all times. If your vehicle does become disabled, make every effort to move from the travel lane and onto the shoulder. Remain alert for inactive traffic signals as a result of power outages. Use EXTREME caution and treat it is as a four-way stop – it’s the law. Remember to buckle up, “Take It Slow on Ice and Snow” and drive sober!

Sign up for SHA’s FREE service — the “511 Traveler Information” system. 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.

Before leaving, log onto www.roads.maryland.gov and click the CHART icon for the latest road conditions, live traffic cameras and a variety of information to help with travel decisions and planning. Customers can also follow SHA on Facebook and Twitter.