Mayor Craig A. Moe and Emergency Operations Director, Martin Flemion, would like to advise the public that the National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Prince George’s County which includes the Laurel area until 7:00pm this evening.
With the potential for Laurel to have severe weather, Mayor Moe wants to alert the residents and businesses in Laurel of tips that could benefit you during this weather event. If there are any power outages in the City and a generator is used, you are strongly encouraged to use the manufacturer’s instructions for connections and be especially aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from gas powered generator exhaust fumes. Please do not put generators in garages or basements. Generators need to be placed outdoors so that the gas-powered engine will vent properly.
Residents and businesses are also encouraged to prepare for power outages by keeping the following items on hand:
Flashlights – not candles
Fresh batteries
Battery-operated clock radio
Corded telephone
Fully charged cell phone
Non-perishable foods
Blankets
If any of the storms bring high winds, residents are asked to please bring in any loose items like deck furniture, umbrellas, etc. from around their home. Residents should also consider filling the fuel tanks of their vehicles in the event a power outage affects service to neighborhood gas stations. For any residents who rely on well water, filling a bathtub with water in advance of severe weather is strongly encouraged. No matter how you stock pile extra water, make sure you have 3 days of water on hand. FEMA recommends a minimum of 3 gallons of water per person per day.
Mayor Moe asks that if the severe weather hits the Laurel area, please check in on your neighbors who are elderly or physically challenged and make sure that they are well. Residents using generators should follow the manufacturers’ instructions and be sure to locate generators in well-ventilated areas.
Additionally, residents with special needs and are dependent on electricity for medical equipment, should have alternate arrangements in place should they experience an extended power outage. If any residents come across downed power lines please avoid them and report them immediately to your electric carrier.
For more tips on how to make it through a hurricane safely, please visit the FEMA website at www.ready.gov.
Mayor Moe and Director Flemion are closely monitoring this storm. Information will be posted on the City of Laurel Facebook page and Twitter as it is received to inform you of what is happening with this storm front, so please check these sites regularly.
If an emergency does arise, please call the Laurel Police at 301-725-3000. If you should lose power, please call Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E) at 877-778-2222 or visit the BG&E website at https://outagemap.bge.com/ to view their outage map.
