Politics & Government

With Widespread Power Outages, Harford County Opens 3 Shelters

There are three shelters open for Harford County residents without power.

There will be three shelters open overnight for those in Harford County who need somewhere to stay warm, emergency officials reported Wednesday.

More than 13,000 customers were without power in Harford County, particularly in the northern areas, Emergency Manager Rick AyersΒ said in a 5 p.m. statement. BGE and Delmarva Power were havingΒ troubleΒ restoring service becauseΒ ice, fallen trees and branches covered power lines.

To assistΒ those without power,Β the county is opening three shelters, the Harford County's Department of Emergency Services reported:

Citizens using the shelters should bringΒ their personal hygiene items (soap, towels, pillow, toothbrush); any necessaryΒ medications; andΒ specialized medical equipment that may be needed.

Weapons will not be permitted into the shelters, officials said.

Additional outagesΒ may occur, as winds are supposed to pick up and temperatures will drop into the teens overnight, Ayers said.

Harford County Emergency Management, theΒ Department ofΒ Community Services, the Department of Social Services and the American Red Cross are working together toΒ assist thoseΒ who have lost power, the statement said.

The followingΒ hotline has beenΒ activatedΒ for non-emergency-related questions inΒ Harford County:Β 410-838-5800.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.