Maryland Governor Declares State of Emergency

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency a little more than an hour after the National Hurricane Center upgraded Hurricane Joaquin to a category 4 storm.

”Out of an abundance of caution, moments ago I signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency here in Maryland in anticipation of Hurricane Joaquin,” Hogan said at press conference after 3 p.m. Thursday.

The declaration is a “proactive measure” to ensure resources are ready if needed, Hogan said, speaking inside the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) headquarters in Reisterstown.

“...shelters are on standby and when activated will be ready to receive displaced residents,” Hogan said, and the state has reached out to utility companies, which are mobilizing for possible outages.

At the time of the press conference, Hurricane Joaquin was by the Bahamas, where the National Hurricane Center said winds were nearing 130 mph.

“We’re in a monitoring mode,” MEMA Director Russell Strickland said about the storm’s path in relation to Maryland.

Since 5 a.m. Thursday, projections showed Hurricane Joaquin remaining offshore, Strickland said. However, there was not much certainty in that model; he said things may become more clear in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Even if it does not make landfall, Hurricane Joaquin is anticipated to bring tidal surges that could cause flooding in the mid-Atlantic region this weekend.

“Regardless of Joaquin’s track, a prolonged period of elevated water levels and large waves will affect the mid-Atlantic region, causing significant beach and dune erosion with moderate coastal flooding likely,” the National Hurricane Center reported Thursday afternoon.

See Also: How to Prepare for Hurricane Joaquin

“Things are fast-moving and constantly changing....we’re preparing for all potential paths [of the storm],” Hogan said.

Leading up to Hurricane Joaquin’s possible arrival, Maryland will experience several inches of rain and could see flash floods in a separate storm system, according to the National Weather Service.

The governor said particular areas of concern were coastal and low-lying parts of the state.

“While we’re hoping for the best, we’re preparing for the worst,” Hogan said.

“Our state is taking every precaution, and I urge Marylanders to do the same,” Hogan continued. “Start now to prepare your families, your homes for potential heavy rains, winds and possible flooding.”

Citizens should be sure to have “commonsense items” like batteries and bottled water, he said.

Follow MEMA’s Twitter feed @MDMEMA and Facebook page for more information about storm prep.

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Hurricane Joaquin’s position at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center.