Anne Arundel On Hurricane Florence: Less Of A Threat

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The slow pace of Hurricane Florence toward the coast gave residents plenty of time to prepare for the storm, but the latest track has changed favorably for Anne Arundel County with forecasters saying it will veer further south. "County residents still need to remain vigilant, as this is a large and powerful storm," says the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management. The National Weather Service now predicts a total of about 1 inch of rain by Sunday, and very little wind, with moderate tidal surge.

Authorities will continue to monitor the storm in case the track shifts. Residents should continue to prepare their families for potential flooding and remember the dangers of flood waters:

• If a flood warning goes into effect, it is essential to follow your emergency plan and not react impulsively.
• Remain in an elevated, dry, safe place for the entirety of the flood. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood water.
• Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Remember to stay off bridges over fast-moving water.

Hurricane Florence should make landfall in either North Carolina or South Carolina on Friday morning. The Category 3 storm is packing winds of 120 mph. No evacuations have been ordered in the county to date.

"Good news for Marylanders, we will miss the worst of the storm," the Anne Arundel County Emergency Management Office said on Facebook Wednesday. "This doesn't mean we should let our guard down though! The weekend may bring tidal flooding and continued rainfall. Preparing for storms is a crucial element of keeping your family safe during emergencies!"

(Stay on top of all the latest Hurricane Florence news with our free, real-time news alerts, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

After Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency ahead of the landfall of Hurricane Florence, local officials said residents of Anne Arundel County should prepare now for the storm. "We are still not certain of the storm’s path, but we are preparing for any possible outcome,” said County Executive Steve Schuh in a news release. “We urge our residents to take every precaution. Stay tuned to your local news stations for the latest updates, listen to any instructions we may provide."

Street flooding has closed some downtown Annapolis streets since the weekend, and the city distributed sandbags Wednesday to residents and businesses.

State officials have urged residents to check the evacuation zone maps drawn by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency so they know if their area is included in any orders. The cities of Baltimore, Annapolis, and Ocean City, along with parts of Anne Arundel County, are part of the zones. Check addresses and find more information at KnowYourZoneMd.com.

Anne Arundel County emergency officials said if your address falls into a color-coded zone, this does not mean an evacuation has been issued for your location. If evacuation is necessary, notifications will be made through Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, press releases, news outlets, and emergency notification systems.

All landlines in Anne Arundel County are automatically registered with the emergency management office's warning. system. To sign up for additional text messages, cell phone calls, or emails, visit: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/0CFE8AD37336.

SEE ALSO:

• MD Governor Declares State Of Emergency For Hurricane Florence
• Hurricane Florence: How Marylanders Can Prepare
• Hurricane Florence: Annapolis Sandbag Handouts Start Sept. 12
• Hurricane's Approach Cancels 2018 Boatyard Beach Bash
• Hurricane Florence MD Update: Evacuation Zones, Flooding Fears
• Hurricane Florence: Preparedness Kit To Pack, Insurance Info
• Hurricane Florence: Protect Your Pet In A Storm
• Hurricane Preparedness: How To Keep Kids Safe And Calm

Stay Connected To Weather Alerts In Anne Arundel County

• Follow the city of Annapolis on Twitter and on Facebook for street closures and flooding updates.
• Find storm-related county road closures that can be tracked online
• Follow Anne Arundel County Emergency Management on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AACO_OEM or go to Facebook: Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management
• Visit Anne Arundel County emergency management's Citizen's Guide To Emergencies page
• Sign up for the Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis emergency mass notification system, known as CodeRED.
• Get news alerts from Anne Arundel County Patches.

How To Prepare In Anne Arundel County

• Keep a flashlight and extra batteries ready.
• Have cash on hand in case credit machines are down in an outage.
• Clear your gutters and downspouts.
• Remove loose items from your yard that can become projectiles.
• Charge cell phones and mobile devices
• Develop a plan for older individuals and pets.
• Make sure gas tanks are at least half full.
• Establish a place to meet family members if evacuation is necessary
• Have 3 to 7 days of nonperishable food and water (1 gallon of water per person per day at least)
• Stock up on supplies for pets
• Place documents, phone numbers and cash in a sealed plastic bag in your emergency kit

Photo from the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management