Mayor Craig A. Moe will keep the City of Laurel under a Declaration of Emergency until further notice.  City Offices and Passports are closed on Tuesday, October 30, but will open on time on Wednesday, October 31. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will remain open until further notice. Residents may call 301-725-5300 to report issues of concern. City phones will be staffed by City personnel to assist residents with inquiries. The effects of Hurricane Sandy will continue to be felt in the Laurel area through the end of the week with wind gusts from 35 – 45 miles per hour, so Mayor Moe is asking residents to please continue to check in on your neighbors who are elderly or physically challenged and make sure that they are well. 

Residents and Businesses who are experiencing power outages, and are using generators, 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.

Public Works has cancelled trash, recycling and leaf collection on Tuesday, October 30 and Special Pick Up on Wednesday, October 31. Public Works will resume leaf collections on Wednesday, October 31. Additionally, they will collect Tuesday’s cancelled residential recyclables and Wednesday’s commercial recyclables on Wednesday, October 31. Mayor Moe has asked that Public Works begin going through the City to pick up storm debris starting Wednesday, October 31. If you had any limbs fall, please be sure they are no longer than 6 feet long, with a diameter of 3 inches. Be sure to bundle them up and place them on the street ready for pickup.

Due to the power outages in the City of Laurel, the Robert J. DiPietro Center, located at 7901 Cypress Street, is open for residents as a shelter for those needing to charge electronic items. Internet access should be available depending on service availability.

The State Government has also stated that they will extend early voting. Early voting will occur on Wednesday, October 31 through Friday, November 2. The hours of the early voting will be from 8:00am – 9:00pm each day.

If you are in need of Emergency Service, Fire and EMS can be reached by calling 911 and the Laurel Police can be reached by calling 301-725-3000 for Emergency needs. If you need to report a power outage in your area, please call BG&E at 877-778-2222. For more information on Press Releases and Alerts, please visit our City website at www.laurel.md.us or call the City’s Laurel Information Line at 240-294-1307.