Mayor Craig A. Moe and Emergency Operations Director, Martin Flemion, have received word from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) that in anticipation of the forecast of possible heavy rains Wednesday night, June 12, 2013, through Thursday, June 13, 2013, WSSC has opened another gate, making a total of 3 gates, to release water through Duckett Dam to better prepare for possible increased water levels.
This is expected to affect the Commuter Lot near the American Legion Post 60 on Main Street that handles parking for the MARC Train Station. In anticipation of possible raised water levels from the excess water being released from Duckett Dam and the potentially heavy rains, the City of Laurel has made the decision to CLOSE the Commuter Lot this evening, Wednesday, June 12, 2013 and the Commuter Lot will remain closed until the potential high water levels subside. You are encouraged to find alternate parking areas on Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14, 2013.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch with the possible rainfall amounts that could hit the Laurel area. Showers and thunderstorms could likely move across the Region tonight and produce heavy downpours with rainfall amounts possible in excess of 1 inch. Then another round of thunderstorms could bring heavy rain on Thursday, June 13, which could add a possible inch or two more of rainfall. With the ground already saturated from last week’s heavy rains, these rainfall totals could produce flash flooding of streams and low lying areas.
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.
Residents 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.
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.
