March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 50 F

Hurricane Sandy Live Updates

Note: This post is a running commentary on Hurricane Sandy, or the Frankenstorm which is headed our way. As the storm progresses, we will update this post with the most current information at the top. We will be making additional, and more  frequent updates via Twitter and Facebook. Please follow us on twitter (you do not need to have an account or be on the platform) and on Facebook.

FINAL UPDATE 10/31/12 7:42 AM.

Anne Arundel County Community College is closed today due to power issues.

Thanks for following along with us during the storm. Please tune in for the next one, they say we are in for a tough winter.  We will be releasing this post from the top of the page.

UPDATE 10/30/12 06:55 PM.

Most Anne Arundel County Schools will open 2 hours late tomorrow (10/31). However, several are still without power and for those schools ONLY, there will be no classes. The schools without power are:

  • Arlington Echo
  • Belvedere Elementary
  • Deale Elementary
  • Edgewater Elementary
  • Ferndale Early Education Center
  • Georgetown East Elementary
  • Glendale Elementary
  • Jones Elementary
  • Linthicum Elementary
  • Lothian Elementary
  • Magothy River Middle School
  • Northeast High School
  • Richard Henry Lee Elementary
  • Severn River Middle School
  • Southern Middle
  • Tracey’s Elementary
  • Tyler Heights Elementary

UPDATE 10/30/12 03:20 PM.

Anne Arundel County Government will be open on Wednesday, October 31, with a liberal leave policy in effect. Essential employees must report on time.

The Annapolis Shelter closed today at noon. The Emergency Operations Center will deactivate at 9 p.m. Commuters are asked to use caution as utliity crews, as well as public works and public safety personnel will likely be working on roads to restore power, remove debris and direct traffic.

Curbside trash collection originally scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of this week will be completed tomorrow and Thursday, November 1, respectively. Collections scheduled for Thursday and Friday will take place on Friday and Saturday. The County landfill and convenience centers will be open for normal hours.

Power outages are expected to continue. Report outages to BGE at 877-778-2222.

Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announces that all City Government offices will open on time Wednesday. The mayor also announced that refuse and recycling will resume collections on a modified schedule on Wednesday:

  • Monday’s scheduled collection will be picked up on Wednesday, October, 31
  • Tuesday’s scheduled collection will be picked up on Thursday, November, 1
  • Thursday’s scheduled collection will be picked up on Friday, November, 2
  • Friday’s scheduled collection will be picked up on Saturday, November, 3

In order for the City to collect storm debris, residents are urged to put out yard waste as they are able. Starting tomorrow, the City will collect yard waste as quickly as resources permit. This means you may need to leave storm debris out on the curb for more than one day.

Bulky item pickup that was scheduled for Wednesday, October 31 will be picked up on Wednesday, November 7.

The free parking for residents in city garages will last through the remainder of today. After midnight, garages will resume charging.

Annapolis Transit will be operating on regular schedule beginning Wednesday.

The Annapolis High School closed as a shelter at noon, today.

Meantime, staff at the City’s Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management office continues to keep a close eye on the tidal activity at City Dock until later this evening. The Annapolis Call Center, 410-260-2211, will remain open until further notice.

UPDATE 10/30/12 01:01 PM.

Airline operations at BWI are slowly beginning to resume. However, the rule of thumb is that for every 12 hours of closure, it will take 36 hours to recover. The following was just received from BWI.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport withstood the historic coastal storm yesterday and last night without significant damage or flooding. The airfield and terminal remained open throughout the storm, though airlines cancelled all flights after Monday morning. There were no commercial passenger aircraft at BWI Marshall during the storm.

Very limited airline service is expected at BWI Marshall on Tuesday. A Delta 747 aircraft operating as a military charter flight arrived at BWI Marshall just before 9:00 a.m. Due to the size and scope of the storm, airlines will continue working to reposition aircraft and resume operations in coming days at BWI Marshall and airports throughout the eastern United States. Some airlines that serve BWI Marshall are expected to gradually restart service on Tuesday.

Customers with travel plans in coming days should work with airlines to obtain the latest flight status information before heading to the Airport. Travelers are advised to monitor airline or Airport websites to be aware of continued flight cancellations. BWI Marshall Airport’s website is—www.BWIairport.com.

Those travelers impacted by flight cancellations in recent days are encouraged to rebook travel arrangements by telephone or airline websites, rather than coming to BWI Marshall Airport.

“The safety of travelers and employees is the highest priority for BWI Marshall and our airline partners,” said Paul J. Wiedefeld, Executive Director of BWI Marshall Airport. “The airlines will work in coming days to resume service and to accommodate their customers. I want to acknowledge and thank the good work by BWI Marshall employees and our partners with the airlines, the TSA, and our concessions. The planning, preparation, and hard work helped us weather the worst of the massive storm.”

UPDATE 10/30/12 11:33 AM.

From the City of Annapolis:

Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen advises residents that flooding at City Dock will continue until 6:00 p.m.

A tide of 2.5 feet above normal is expected. Annapolis’ next high tide is around 6:00 p.m., and due to the full moon will be an astronomical high tide. Flood waters are expected to reach above the feet at the Alex Haley statue.

Winds are currently out of the South at 25 mph, so the water is coming in, and staying in. The City Dock area could see a prolonged high tide until around 6:00 p.m. at which time we will see flood waters receding.

Meanwhile, damage assessment teams, made up of both Department of Public Works and Department on Neighborhood and Environmental Program staff, have been surveying damage since about 10:00 this morning and have reported the following:

Trees down on property:

  • Fairview Avenue
  • Janice Drive

Trees down on roadway:

  • Porter Drive
  • Chester Avenue
  • Edelmar Drive
  • Breakwater & Edgewood Road

Power Lines Down

  • Janice Drive
  • Porter Drive
  • Sumner & Howison Road
  • Two on West Street
  • Virginia Street
  • McKendry Street
  • Second and Eastern

Street Closures:

  • Compromise Street
  • Dock Street
  • Edgewood Road at the 7400 block (detour)
  • Porter between Baldwin and Sampson
  • Second at Eastern

The mayor has closed all City Government offices today and the Department of Transportation has canceled regular bus service until further notice.

The mayor also announced that refuse and recycling collection will be canceled for today, October 30. The Pip Moyer Recreation Center is closed until further notice and the Annapolis Harbormaster has closed the Annapolis Harbor due to the current weather conditions.

Annapolis residents with non-emergency questions or concerns should call 410-260-2211. For updated information, go to www.annapolis.gov.

UPDATE 10/30/12 11:30 AM.

Update on Early Voting. Early Voting is closed today (10/30) and will resume tomorrow morning. The hours have been extended and polling locations will be open from 8:00AM to 9:00PM on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Friday is an extended day.

UPDATE 10/30/12 11:02 AM.

The following businesses and shopping centers have been confirmed as opening and operating. Please note that individual stores in shopping centers and malls may be closed due to staffing issues.

  • Bay Ridge Plaza (Giant, Zu Coffee, Rocco’s, Jacks Fortune, etc)
  • Annapolis Towne Center (Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc)
  • Bay Ridge Center (Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits, Grump’s, West Marine, etc)
  • McDonalds on Bay Ridge Road.
  • Fleet Feet in Annapolis
  • Sheehy Lexus in Annapolis
  • O’Callaghan Hotel (special $75 rate for locals without power. Must call 410-263-7700 to get rate)
  • Rams Head (all locations)
  • Red Red Wine Bar on Main Street
  • Homestead Gardens (both locations at noon)
  • Christopher’s in Crofton
  • Evolutions Body Clinic
  • Punks Backyard Grill
  • Westfield Annapolis
  • Main Ingredient Cafe on Bay Ridge Rd
  • BB Bistro in West Annapolis
  • Annapolis Harbour Center (TGI Fridays, Baja Fresh, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, Bowtie Cinemas, Pot Belly Deli, etc)
  • Roly Poly sandwiches (Admiral Drive near Wawa off Bestgate Road at noon)
  • Wegmans in Crofton
  • Ledo Pizza (most locations, Severna Park may be suspect lots of outages)
  • Galway Bay on Maryland Avenue
  • Adam’s Ribs in Eastport Shopping Center

UPDATE 10/30/12 09:15 AM.

  • Annapolis City free parking for residents will end at midnight tonight. Please remove your cars before then.
  • The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is once again open for two-way traffic.
  • Currently Anne Arundel County has 58,115 customers without electricity. This represents 25% of BGE’s customers. To report an outage please call 877-778-2222.
  • For readers with a septic tank, well, or propane tank, there are special precautions you should take. Please read the info at the MD Department of the Environment information.
  • While officials are still recommending that you remain off the roads, if you do venture out, many traffic signals are dark. When approaching a dark signal it is the law that it be treated as a 4-way stop sign.
  • Annapolis City officials are assessing the damage and will have a report early this afternoon along with a schedule of resumption of city services.
  • It is expected that the Anne Arundel County Schools will make a decision about school tomorrow (10/31) early this afternoon.

UPDATE 10/29/12 08:50 PM.

Glenn Miller took these photos earlier this afternoon of the preparations for the storm and  a downed tree on Route 450.  Photos © 2012 Glenn A. Miller Photography.

UPDATE 10/29/12 07:43 PM.

Here is a video from a drive through Bay Ridge and downtown:

 

UPDATE 10/29/12 4:34 PM.

The following restaurants have been confirmed as being open as of now. They can (and likely will) close as the storm worsens, they lose power, etc. Please call before heading out. There is not a restriction on driving yet; however authorities are suggesting that you remain off the roads as they will become increasingly dangerous.

  • Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis
  • Rams Head Shorehouse in Stevensville
  • Rams Head Roadhouse in Crownsville
  • Rams Head Savage Mills in Savage
  • Ledo Pizza (all locations)
  • Stan & Joes (Annapolis and Edgewater)
  • Sammy’s Italian Pizza Kitchen in Eastport
  • Davis’ sPub in Eastport
  • Chinese restaurant in Eastport Shopping Center
  • Heroes’ Pub in West Annapolis
  • O’Briens in Annapolis
  • Middleton Tavern in Annapolis
  • Red Red Wine Bar in Annapolis
  • Chick N Ruths in Annapolis
  • Acme Bar & Grill in Annapolis
  • Wingman in Pasadena
  • Woodfire in Severna Park

UPDATE 10/29/12 3:41 PM.

The following photos were taken around the historic district of Annapolis around 2:30 PM.

UPDATE 10/29/12 2:26 PM.

From Annapolis City:

Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen is urging all residents to shelter-in-place.

“As the weather conditions deteriorate, I’m asking Annapolis citizens to stay off the roads and shelter-in-place,” Mayor Cohen said. “The weather conditions are dangerous and everyone should be in a dry safe environment, out of the elements. Anyone that lives in a low-lying area, or in a flood zone, and wants to evacuate, our Transportation Department will pick them up and take them to the evacuation shelter, located at Annapolis High School. They should call 410-260-2211 to request transportation to the shelter.”

A Flood Watch remains in effect through Tuesday evening. Heavy rain, ahead of and near the storm, is expected to produce rainfall of between 5 and 10 inches across the watch area, with locally higher amounts possible. Excessive rainfall could cause creeks and streams to rise quickly out of their banks and flood low lying and urban areas. Moderate to major flooding is likely, especially on smaller creeks and streams.

This, coupled with the High Wind Warning in effect, with 30 to 40 mph wind, makes for extremely dangerous conditions. Annapolis could experience wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph by early Tuesday morning.

The Maryland National Guard is in Annapolis, at the request of the Annapolis Police Department, to assist them in responding if there is an enhanced need for mobility due to the intensity of the storm.

Any downed electrical wires should be reported to BGE at 1-800-685-0123. Fallen trees that are blocking City roadways should be reported to 410-260-2211.

The mayor has closed all City Government offices today and the Department of Transportation has canceled regular bus service until further notice. All City Government offices will be closed again on Tuesday, October 30, except for essential employees. Essential employees must report on time.

The mayor also announced that refuse and recycling collection will be canceled for today, October 29, and Tuesday, October 30. The Pip Moyer Recreation Center is closed until further notice and the Annapolis Harbormaster has closed the Annapolis Harbor due to the current weather conditions.

All four City garages (Hillman, Gotts, Knighton and Park Place) opened free of charge to City residents yesterday, allowing them to get their vehicles in the garages before the storm hits. As of noon today, Knighton is full.

The mayor continues to encourage residents who live along narrow streets to move their vehicles into the remaining garages or into other sheltered areas to help keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles and utility crews. Vehicles can remain in the garage through the duration of the storm.

For those parking at Hillman garage, residents need to go to garage office and pick up a validation ticket before exiting the garage free of charge. For those City residents parking at Gotts, Knighton and Park Place, just show the attendant a valid drivers license, showing proof of Annapolis residency, when exiting free of charge.

UPDATE 10/29/12 1:50 PM.

Anne Arundel County Government will be closed on Tuesday, October 30, with no curbside trash collection. Essential employees are expected to report on time.

There are currently 27 people at the Annapolis Shelter, which is located at Annapolis High School. The shelter will remain open throughout Hurricane Sandy. There are currently two reported road closures due to a downed tree blocking Mayo Road in Beverly Beach and flooding on River Road south of Herald Harbor. The Emergency Operations Center is fully activated with staffing from every County department.

The National Weather Service is expecting the highest winds between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. tonight. There will be sustained winds of up to 45 mph with gusts reaching as high as 65 mph. Between four and eight inches of rain is expected through Wednesday.

All curbside collection activities have been suspended until Wednesday, October 31, 2012. Collections scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of this week will be completed on Wednesday and Thursday. Collections scheduled for Thursday and Friday will take place on Friday and Saturday.

Customers are asked to retrieve their trash, recyclables and yardwaste previously placed at the curbside.

County government will continue to broadcast live on community television Tuesday at 9 a.m. You can watch the show on Comcast 98 or Verizon 38.

Widespread power outages are expected overnight. Report outages to BGE at 877-778-2222.

UPDATE 10/29/12 12:59 PM.

Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announced that all City Government offices will be closed Tuesday, October 30, except for essential employees. Essential employees must report on time. The mayor also announced that refuse and recycling collection will be canceled for Tuesday, October 30.  The Pip Moyer Recreation Center is closed until further notice. A grace period will be given to those who attempted to pay their utility bill at City Hall while offices were closed. The Annapolis Office of Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management opened its Call Center yesterday. The Center is a phone line for non-emergency inquiries. The number is 410-260-2211.

UPDATE 10/29/12 12:42 PM.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge will likely be closed around 1:00pm due to high winds.

UPDATE 10/29/12 11:57 AM.

All Anne Arundel County Schools will be closed tomorrow, October 30, 2012. Code Red!

UPDATE 10/29/12 09:04 AM.

Update on potential bridge closures.  A wind advisory is in effect for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge . The bridge will close when gusts exceed 55 MPH. Restrictions also in effect for Key and Hatem Memorial bridges. Current conditions are indicating wind gusts near the Bay Bridge approaching 45 MPH. For perspective, the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy are currently producing wind gusts as high as 70 MPH and higher.

UPDATE 10/29/12 08:11 AM.

The City of Annapolis has closed the harbor. Also the City has finally canceled trash pick up this morning as well as closed the Pip Moyer Rec Center.

BWI has canceled all flights into and out of the airport after 10:30 AM.  Currently, there are widespread cancelations, so please check with your carrier.

UPDATE 10/28/12 11:45 PM.

Because of Hurricane Sandy’s forecasted impact on Annapolis, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announced that City of Annapolis Government offices will be closed on Monday, October 29. Essential employees must report on time.

UPDATE 10/28/12 11:11 PM.

From the Anne Arundel County Emergency Operations Center.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to make landfall tomorrow, Monday October 29th, so today is your last chance to prepare for potential impacts. Heavy rains and high winds will likely lead to power outages for a prolonged period. Citizens should create survival kits with water, non-perishable foods, battery-powered radios and flashlights. Secure any loose items in your yard that may become projectiles. Citizens in low-lying areas should consider moving inland to stay with friends, family members, at a hotel or the designated shelter at Annapolis High School. Annapolis High School is located at 2700 Riva Road and opens today, Sunday October 28th at 3pm. If you have any questions call the Annapolis call center at 410-222-0600. For emergencies, call 911.

UPDATE 10/28/12 9:20 PM.

The following are closed tomorrow due to the storm.

  • Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel County Government Offices will be closed on Monday, October 29. Essential employees are expected to report on time. Trash collection is cancelled.
  • Annapolis City. City administrative offices will be open on Monday, October 29, but supervisors are to allow for the liberal use of unscheduled annual leave. Essential employees must report on time. At this time, trash pickup is still scheduled. Because of Hurricane Sandy’s forecasted impact on Annapolis, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announced that City of Annapolis Government offices will be closed on Monday, October 29. Essential employees must report on time.
  • Anne Arundel County Schools. Closed on October 29, 2012.
  • Anne Arundel County Public Library. Headquarters and all branches are closed. This will also close early voting in those locations.
  • Federal Government.  Closed Monday. Non-emergency employees will be granted administrative leave; emergency employees will be required to report to work. Employees should telework if possible.
  • USNA. Naval Academy will be closed Monday. Mission Critical/Essential Personnel are expected to report to work.
  • Maryland Government. Maryland government will be closed tomorrow.
  • Early Voting. Canceled for Monday, October 29, 2012.
  • Anne Arundel County Community College. All campuses will be closed on Monday.
  • MARC. Will not operate on Monday.
  • Washington Metro. Will not operate on Monday.

UPDATE 10/28/12 5:40 PM.

Anne Arundel County Schools are closed tomorrow.

UPDATE 10/28/12 12:46PM.

Annapolis Hurricane Call Center is now open. Call 410-260-2211 for any NON-EMERGENCY hurricane calls. Still call 911 for emergencies.

UPDATE 10/28/12 10:59 AM.

Several people have voluntarily left their homes ahead of the storm and sought out family, friends, and hotels. One issue us how to handle pets. We are not sure of the hotel availability, but here is a link to a list of pet-friendly hotels in the area where you may be able to evacuate with your pets.

UPDATE 10/28/12 10:33 AM.

From an article by Justin Berk, he expects that the storm will make landfall in Centreal New Jersey, but there is a chance it could be anywhere between Ocean City, Maryland and New York City. Most forecasters are hesitant to peg a landfall time at this point.

ABC2 has released a detailed forecast for the next few days with the bulk of the rain and win moving in on Monday. The event itself looks to be over by Tuesday, however the damage will linger:

Sunday Rain, mainly after 8am. High near 60. Northeast wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday Night Rain before 8pm, then showers between 8pm and 2am, then periods of rain after 2am. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 50. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Monday Periods of rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 55. Windy, with a north wind 25 to 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.

Monday Night Rain. Low around 44. Very windy, with a north wind 38 to 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday Showers. High near 50. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 41. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

UPDATE 10/27/12 6:44 PM.

Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen encourages residents in low-lying areas to have an evacuation plan and announces the City of Annapolis Call Center will be activated on Sunday, October 28, at noon.

Hurricane Sandy is packing heavy rains and gusty winds and has the potential for severe flooding. Forecasters are calling for the greatest impact to occur along the coastal areas and say Annapolis will start to feel the effects of Sandy late Sunday. Citizens should be prepared to evacuate if:

You live in an low lying area

You live in a flood prone area

You live on the coastline or near a river

If you choose to evacuate, leave as early as possible. Stay with friends or relatives that live out of a flood zone, or go to a pre-designated public shelter.

The Annapolis High School has been designated as the storm shelter for the citizens of Annapolis. Annapolis High School, located at 2700 Riva Road, will open at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. The City of Annapolis will provide transportation to the shelter for any Annapolis citizen at no cost. Call 410-260-2211 to schedule transportation starting at noon Sunday, October 28.

Please remember to bring the following items with you to the shelter:

  • Medications
  • Baby food and diapers
  • Cards, books and games
  • Toiletries
  • Charged cell phone
  • Identification
  • Valuable papers
  • Cash

The Annapolis High School is a pet friendly shelter that accepts dogs and cats only.

The City of Annapolis Call Center will be activated on Sunday, October 28, at noon. The Call Center will be open 24 hours a day for the duration of, and recovery from, Hurricane Sandy. The Annapolis Call Center is for non-emergency calls only and for Annapolis citizens and local businesses. To contact the City of Annapolis Call Center, dial 410-260-2211. Persons with emergency requests should call 911.

At 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, all four City garages (Hillman, Gotts, Knighton and Park Place), will be open free of charge to City residents, allowing them to get their vehicles in the garages before the storm hits.

The mayor encourages residents who live along narrow streets to move their vehicles into the garages or into other sheltered areas to help keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles and utility crews. Vehicles can remain in the garage through the duration of the storm.

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