Friday, Saturday Declared Code Red Heat Alert Days. Friday and Saturday have been declared Code Red heat alert days in Baltimore due to the extremely high temperatures that are expected.The city will open its cooling centers for those residents who need it. Click here to get a list of those cooling centers. You can also check your area for a list of cooling centers if you live outside the city. Health officials said 13 people have died from heat-related issues in the state so far this year, and they’re hoping not to add to that number. If you’re stuck in the heat and aren’t sure what heat exhaustion/stroke symptoms to watch out for, click here.
Health Officials Confirm West Nile Virus In Anne Arundel County. State Department of Agriculture officials announced the first detection of a West Nile virus mosquito pool in Maryland this year.The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirmed the presence of West Nile in mosquitoes collected by Maryland Department of Agriculture personnel on July 13 in the Linthicum area.
BGE To Customers: Expect Higher Bills. BGE is telling its customers to brace themselves for big power bills thanks to the sweltering temperatures.Company officials said Thursday they’ve seen record power usage in recent weeks, which will translate into higher-than-normal bills for this time of year.For the first 21 days of July 2010, there have been 19 days when the temperature exceeded 90 degrees, which compares to just two in July 2009.BGE said customers with central air conditioning may find that their electric usage has doubled over the past two months.
Three Hurt When Ocean City Roller Coaster Breaks Down. A roller coaster on the boardwalk in Ocean City broke down Thursday night, sending three children to area hospitals.Investigators said the Tidal Wave roller coaster broke down at about 9:30 p.m. because of an apparent mechanical problem.The roller coaster is located at Trimper’s Rides on South Atlantic Avenue.Paramedics took three children between the ages of 10 and 15 years old to area hospitals with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.
