Crisfield Neighborhood Evacuated Due To Rising Water; Baltimore Co. Residents Brace For Flooding
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. (WJZ/AP)-- Gov. Martin O'Malley says about 50 to 60 people have been evacuated from a development in Crisfield after a tidal surge flooded homes on the first floor.
O'Malley said Monday night at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency that about 75 to 100 people are staying on the second floor of homes at Somers Cove in Somerset County. O'Malley says the people who remained will be checked up on in the morning to see if they need assistance.
The governor says water levels were such that some of the Humvees were starting to get stranded, given the depth of water.
The people who were evacuated were brought to a shelter at Washington High School.
Waterways all over the region are swollen. Baltimore County has about 210 miles of shoreline. That's a lot of homes potentially in danger.
Derek Valcourt has more.
In Baltimore County's low-lying, flood-prone areas like Middle River and Bowley's Quarters, residents are watching Hurricane Sandy with a worried eye and fastening their hatches.
"Everything's tied down. We made sure that nothing's going to float away or fly. The biggest thing is, make sure stuff doesn't fly into your car, so if you need to get out of here, you have a windshield," a Bowley's Quarters resident advised.
As bands of rain and winds intensified, residents raced out for last-minute supplies before all the stores closed up shop.
Valcourt:"What do you think about that?"
Baltimore County Resident: "I'm scared. I was scared before coming out now but I had to get out here to get what I had to get. And I had to get my daughter some stuff because she has seven kids and I don't want her driving out. But this is a scary situation to me."
As the day progressed, there were still many cars out on the roads, and that's not OK with County Executive Kevin Kamenetz who has been managing emergency operations and preparing for the worst Sandy has to offer.
"This storm is going to be different than in the past because there are lots of creeks and streams and tributaries also near the reservoir that are going to be subject to flooding," he said. "That's why I'm telling people that expect tonight when you go to bed that you will not have power tomorrow. That's because two-thirds of our county is zoned rural in nature and there are lots of trees and we know what happens when the trees go down with the electricity."
Kamenetz also said Eastern Technical High School in Essex is one shelter where residents can go to if they need to evacuate from their homes.
Baltimore Co. Executive Kevin Kamenetz Talks With WJZ
Waters are rising on the Jones Falls. At 2 p.m. on Monday, the water level was at 7 feet. And the water is well above that now and it has breached the parking lot at Meadow Mill, getting closer to the building.
Meghan McCorkell has more.
In Mount Washington, the water has hit the bridge. A lot of stores in the area have closed. The owner of Joe's Black Shop was out watching the water and hoping it doesn't affect his business.
The Jones Falls also continues to rise. The water is above nine feet at this point and is steadily continuing to rise.
"The heavy rain is still coming and then especially here, even after the heavy rain has come and gone, we get all the run-off from heavy rain. It's all got to go somewhere and it's all going to end up in the Bay. It's all going to come through here. We get flooded hours after the heavy rain comes. Yeah, we're concerned."
McCorkell: "How high have you seen it get?"
"I've seen it at the end of the road here, right here on Falls Road. Cross your fingers, knock on wood, we've never been flooded across the street."
Strong winds blew a 'Road Closed' sign from one end of the street to another.
