ICE ALERT: 'Entire County is Paralyzed...'

As roads were coated in freezing rain Sunday morning, first responders were running into challenges providing service to those involved in collisions, officials said.

“The entire county is currently paralyzed due to ice conditions,” Jenn Chenworth-Price, spokeswoman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, reported at approximately 9 a.m. Sunday.

The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory until 11 a.m. Sunday for Harford County. Freezing rain will cause a trace of ice on roads and make for slippery conditions, according to the advisory.

“The freezing rain and icy conditions will improve as the day goes on,” Harford County Emergency Management reported. “...slow down, be prepared for slippery roads and use caution.”

The following areas were problematic, authorities said:

• Franklinville Road is closed after a vehicle went into a guardrail after 11 a.m.
• Route 1 (south) at Reckord Road was closed due to ice.
• Route 165 at Baltimore County line
• MD Route 543 between Route 22 and Thomas Run Road
• Route 543 at Southampton Road
• MD Route 136, especially near Northern Dancer
• MD Route 23—fatal crash; Route 23 at HIgh Point Road is closed.
• Bel Air Bypass was experiencing “severe ice conditions,” with multiple vehicles off the road, especially at intersection of Harford and Belair roads.
• There were reportedly 32 cars off the road on Route 1 in the area of the Deer Creek flats.
• North Tollgate Road
• 1100 block of Tollgate Road
• Bynum Overlook
• Hookers Mill Road
• West Jarrettsville Road
• Brierhill Drive
• Hackberry Court
• Wheel Road
• Patterson Mill Road
• Carson Run and Stepney Road
• MD Route 24
• Centerville off Thomas Road
• Grafton Shop at Vale Road
• Johnson Mill Road and US 1
• Watervale Road
• Rocks Road at Grier Nursery Road
• Route 165 and Charles Street
• Route 1 north of Hickory
• MD Route 543
• Laurel Bush Road at Wheel Road
• MD Route 161 crash at Fox Road
• Route 1 at Lake Fanny Road is impassable.
• Northern Harford County roads

“Due to icy conditions, providers are having to park their units and walk to check on accidents and passengers of vehicles,” Chenworth-Price said. “This creates additional hazards for providers to slipping and falling on the ice.

“There are several EMS and fire units that have been involved in minor accidents while en route to assist others this morning,” Chenworth-Price said. “The Harford County 911 center is backing up those units that have been disabled due to the accidents.”

Harford County Emergency Management said people should stay off the roads until the late morning.

“The public is urged NOT to drive at this time unless absolutely necessary,” emergency management said in a statement. Icy roads and hazardous conditions were expected to continue until late morning, officials said, adding that citizens “should not drive unless urgent.”

Harford County Emergency Management issued the following message the morning of Sunday, Jan. 18:

There are multiple accidents with injuries this morning because of icy road[s].

Please drive with extreme caution or remain off the road until conditions improve.

There were more crashes countywide than crews that could respond to them, the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association reported before 9 a.m.

”Roads across Harford [County] are full of ice,” association spokesman Rich Gardiner said. “Multiple vehicle collisions. Resources are getting stuck also.” Officials advised staying off roads.