Dispatchers Handle 175 Calls For Downed Trees, Wires: HoCo Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — As freezing rain fell in Howard County Tuesday, so did trees and power lines. Some roads were closed temporarily as a result.

Dispatchers handled more than 700 calls, police reported before 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Of those calls, 175 were for downed trees or wires.

"Total call volume is more than double a normal day!" police said, thanking 911 dispatchers from the Howard County Police Department and Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Drivers should be extremely careful if they have to be out Tuesday on the roads, giving themselves extra time, reducing their speeds, and ensuring vehicles are free of ice before venturing out.

Northwestern Howard County is under a winter storm warning until 7 p.m. Tuesday because of ice; this warning is issued when travel is nearly impossible or extremely dangerous.

The rest of Howard County was under a winter weather advisory until 4 p.m. Tuesday due to freezing rain and the potential for ice accumulation on slippery roads.

Some school buses were delayed on their way to pick up students because of fallen trees blocking their routes, despite the fact that public schools in Howard County opened two hours late Tuesday.

In other cases, Howard County students who walked to school were notified they would have to take detours around fallen tree limbs to arrive safely.

After-school activities, events and child care were canceled, the Howard County Public School System decided Tuesday afternoon.

Road Closures Around HoCo

Several roads were closed across the county Tuesday because of falling trees and power lines.

By 5:15 p.m., there was one closure still in effect, in Lisbon; MD 94 was closed at Timberleigh Way for debris in the road.

Earlier in the day, there were many more closures.

"Trees are down on roadways throughout the county, and roads may be temporarily closed while they are cleared," the Howard County Police Department alerted drivers after 10:15 a.m.

These were reported before 11 a.m.:

• MD 32 at Amberwoods Way; extended closure for power line removal (closure could last until 3:30 p.m., according to State Highway Administration)
• MD 104/Waterloo Road at Glenmar Road; eastbound closed because of tree down
• MD 108 at Richardson Farm Lane; debris in road

See the latest lane closure information from state transportation officials.

Thousands Of Power Outages In Howard County

As of 5:15 p.m., there were 1,073 BGE customers in Howard County without power, meaning thousands of residents had their utility service restored.

Earlier, around 11 a.m., more than 4,000 BGE customers were without power, according to the BGE outage map.

"We are getting lots of calls for downed power lines in the county," the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services reported after 9 a.m. "Remember, if you come across downed wires, leave the area immediately and call 911."

Main image via Shutterstock. Tables above via CHART.