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Baltimore Preps For Joaquin’s Possible Visit

P. Kenneth Burns
/
WYPR

Baltimore emergency officials are not taking any comfort in storm models predicting that Hurricane Joaquin will track eastward away from Maryland.

“That model is good for us now,” said Bob Maloney, director of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. But, he warned, it’s not time to celebrate yet.

“Less than 36 hours ago, that thing was heading right towards us.”

Baltimore City officials urged residents to “prepare for the worst,” while they were “hoping for the best;” echoing the sentiments of Gov. Larry Hogan who declared a state of emergency Thursday to get resources in place ahead of a possible hurricane landfall.  

He rescinded that declaration for Western Maryland and the Washington suburbs Friday afternoon.

Residents stood in line at the Fells Point Pier Friday morning to get sand bags, hoping to prevent flooding in their homes.

Anita Pilch, of Upper Fells Point, said flooding “would be a huge problem.”

Milton Smith, of Northwest Baltimore, was taking preventative measures while things were relatively calm.

“With heavy rains like this, it’s subject to be bad. This is coming consistent and heavy,” he said.

Warnings from Officials

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the city will be prepared “for whatever may come.”  She asked city residents to take basic precautions.

“Make sure you have your storm emergency, your readiness kit; water, flashlights with batteries, battery powered radio,” she said.

Public Works Director Rudy Chow said workers spent the last week clearing trash from about 53,000 drains in the city; and they need residents’ help to keep them that way.

“The key is to pick the debris up rather than pushing them on the side because as water comes close to the drain it’s going to push those debris back to the drain, he said”

Deputy Housing Commissioner Reggie Scriber warned residents to use flashlights and not candles.

“We have heavy duty flashlights that we can provide to residents to make sure they don’t get caught up in some major disaster with a fire,” he said

Baltimore Police Lt. Col. Osborne Robinson warned people not to stand, walk or drive through standing puddles of water.

“You put yourself at risk as well as public safety if we have to try to get you out of that situation,” Robinson said.  He also asked residents to check on neighbors to make sure they are OK.

Fire Chief Niles Ford said he’ll have teams in place to perform water rescues, but he didn’t want them “to be in a position where we have to come rescue you for a situation that you could have avoided because we’re going to have a whole bunch of incidents going on.”

In the storm

Baltimore Housing officials said two emergency shelters will open at 4 p.m. Friday at 3006 W. Cold Spring Ln and 400 E. Federal St.

Baltimore Gas and Electric have asked residents to call 877-778-2222 to report power outages. BGE also asked customers to report downed power lines to 800-685-0123.

City residents can call 311 to report backed-up storm drains, downed trees and road obstructions.