Route 222 Reopens In Cecil County

CECIL COUNTY, MD — The evacuation notices have been lifted in Cecil County on Friday, less than 24 hours after two towns were on alert due to the rising waters downstream of the Conowingo Dam.

MD 222 has reopened, the Maryland State Highway Administration announced after 11 a.m. Friday. High water levels at the dam prompted its closure on Thursday.

Residents were returning to their homes Friday while the river level subsided.

"The emergency operations plan was put into effect and worked exactly as it was supposed to," Port Deposit Town Administrator Vicky Rinkerman said in a statement. "The goal was to keep the residents of our town safe, and that's what we did."

The Susquehanna River had surpassed flood stage as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to officials, who said it was at 24.9 feet and moderate flooding was occurring.

Flood stage is 23.5 feet, the National Weather Service reported, and backyards and basements on Main Street and Tome's Landing in Port Deposit will flood at 24.8 feet.

Port Deposit issued a voluntary evacuation notice on Thursday, as the Susquehanna River level rose while the number of spill gates open increased at the Conowingo Dam. Several hours later, the town of Perryville also suggested evacuations for waterfront residents, and an evacuation center was established at the firehouse on Principio Furnace Road.

By 7:30 p.m. Thursday, weather officials reported the river was at 25.9 feet, and was expected to rise to near 26 feet by Friday morning. There were 20 spill gates open Thursday evening.

As the river level rose Thursday, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said that state agencies were ready to assist, and the State Highway Administration had closed Route 222 and established detours around the dam.

By midnight, the Cecil County Department of Emergency Services reported the river had crested, and by Friday morning, the number of spill gates open had decreased to 16.

"It is a testament to our community how everyone came together so graciously to assist and support Port Deposit during a crisis situation," Cecil County Executive Alan McCarthy said in a statement. "I commend Mayor Tome and his administration, the fire companies, emergency services, local and state law enforcement, as well as the American Red Cross, social services, and members of the community for working collaboratively to ensure the safety of our citizens."

As conditions change and more rain is on the way, Exelon officials say they are closely monitoring the river.

The Susquehanna River is expected to remain at flood stage until at least Friday night, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a flood warning for the Susquehanna River below the Conowingo Dam until further notice.

• Conowingo Dam Gates Open, 2 Towns Under Voluntary Evacuation
• Voluntary Evacuation In Port Deposit Announced
• Flood Evacuees Directed To Perryville Firehouse: Cecil County

File photo via Renee Schiavone/Patch.