Effects of Hurricane Sandy in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The effects of Hurricane Sandy in Maryland and Washington, D.C. included tropical storm force sustained winds with isolated gusts to hurricane force, plus significant mountain snow and coastal flooding.

Hurricane Sandy
Post-tropical (SSHWS/NWS)
Satellite image of Sandy a few hours before landfall
FormedOctober 27, 2012 (First rainbands begin to affect the region)
DissipatedNovember 2, 2012 (Dissipated as extratropical cyclone)
(Extratropical after October 29)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 60 mph (95 km/h)
Gusts: 70 mph (110 km/h)
FatalitiesAt least 11 total
Damage$13.55 million (2012 USD)
Areas affectedMaryland, Washington, D.C.
Part of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season

Preparations

Washington, D.C.

On October 26, Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray declared a state of emergency.[1] That same day the governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia also declared states of emergency in preparation of the approaching storm.[2]

The United States Office of Personnel Management announced federal offices in the Washington, D.C. area would be closed to the public on October 29–30.[3] In addition, Washington, D.C., Metro service, both rail and bus, was canceled on October 29 due to expected high winds, the likelihood of widespread power outages, and the closing of the federal government.[4] President Obama declared a state of emergency for the District of Columbia.[5] The Smithsonian Institution closed for the day of October 29.[6]

Maryland
Beach erosion in Ocean City

On October 27, Smith Island residents were evacuated with the assistance of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, Dorchester County opened two shelters for those in flood prone areas, and Ocean City initiated Phase I of their Emergency Operations Plan.[7][8][9] Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. has been putting workers on standby and making plans to bring in crews from other states.[10] On October 28, President Obama declared an emergency in Maryland and signed an order authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid in disaster relief efforts.[11] Also, numerous areas were ordered to be evacuated including part of Ocean City, Worcester County, Wicomico County, and Somerset County.[12][13] As of October 27, 2012, there are serious possibilities that more than a hundred million tons of dirty sediment mixed with tree limbs and debris floating behind Conowingo Dam may be eventually poured into the Chesapeake Bay, posing a potential environmental threat.[14]

The Maryland Transit Administration canceled all service for October 29 and October 30. The cancellations applied to buses, light rail, Amtrak and MARC train service.[15] On October 29, six shelters opened in Baltimore and early voting was cancelled for the day.[6] Maryland Insurance Commissioner Therese M. Goldsmith activated an emergency regulation requiring pharmacies to refill prescriptions regardless of their last refill date.[16] On October 29, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge over the Chesapeake Bay and the Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge and Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge over the Susquehanna River were closed to traffic in the midday hours.[17]

Impact

Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court did not convene on Tuesday, October 30.[18] The United States Government Office of Personnel Management closed federal offices in the Washington D.C. area to the public on October 29 and 30 as well; they were reopened on October 31. Schools were closed for a second day as well. [19] MARC train and Virginia Railway Express did not run October 30, but on that day Metro rail and bus service began at 2 p.m., with all lines operating on a Sunday schedule until the system closes.[20]

Maryland
Flooding in Crisfield

At least 100 feet of a fishing pier at the beach resort of Ocean City was destroyed. Governor Martin O'Malley said the pier is "half-gone."[21] Due to high winds, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was closed, and subsequently opened. The Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge on I-95 across the Susquehanna River was closed; it was unclear whether this is the first time the Tydings Bridge has been closed.[22]

Due to flooding, the Mayor of the City of Salisbury instituted a Civil Emergency and instituted a curfew beginning at 7pm on October 29 through 10am October 30.[23] I-68 in far western Maryland and northern West Virginia closed due to impassable roads from heavy snow. Multiple vehicles are stranded on the interstate and the National Guard was sent out to help.[24] Workers in Howard County, Maryland tried to stop a sewage overflow caused by a power outage October 30. Raw sewage spilled at a rate of 2 million gallons per hour. It was unclear how much sewage had flowed into the Little Patuxent River.[25] The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which had been closed because of Sandy's high winds, reopened the morning of October 30.[20]

As of the morning of November 2, 28,600 were without power, down from 365,700.[26]

As of late night November 2, there were 11 Hurricane Sandy related fatalities.[27]

As of November 3, Somerset County had an initial damage estimate of $40 million.[28]

See also

References
  1. "DC mayor declares state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy". The Washington Post. October 27, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  2. "Northeast in crosshairs of 'superstorm' Sandy". CNN.com. 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  3. "Federal Government Operating Status Washington D.C. Area". Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  4. Weil, Martin. "Metro system to shut down on Monday". Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  5. "President Obama signs state of emergency for nation's capital as Hurricane Sandy approaches". Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  6. "A state-by-state look at the East Coast superstorm". AP. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  7. "Smith Island Evacuations Under Way". WBOC. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  8. "Dorchester County Offering Shelter During Hurricane Sandy". WBOC. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  9. "O.C. Implementing Phase I of Emergency Operations Plan". WBOC. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  10. "Eastern utilities brace for expected super storm". The Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  11. "Obama Signs Maryland Emergency Declaration". WBOC. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  12. "Worcester County Issues Mandatory Evacuations". WMDT. Archived from the original on 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  13. "Ocean City Declares Local State Of Emergency". WMDT. Archived from the original on 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  14. Fears, Darryl (October 27, 2012). "Sandy poses environmental threat to Conowingo Dam". Washington Post.
  15. "MTA Suspends Bus & Train Service On Monday; BWI Delaying & Canceling Flights Due To Hurricane Sandy". CBS News Baltimore. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  16. "Insurance Commissioner Issues Emergency Regulation Regarding Prescriptions, Pharmacy Payments". Maryland Insurance Administration. Archived from the original on 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  17. "Chesapeake Bay Bridge Now Closed". WBOC TV. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  18. Biskupic, Joan (2012-10-29). "Supreme Court won't convene on Tuesday due to storm: spokeswoman". Reuters. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  19. "Federal Government Operating Status". United States Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  20. "Sandy leaves behind outages, flooded roads". WTOP FM. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  21. "Sandy Damages Pier in Downtown Ocean City". Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  22. "Md. governor: Bay Bridge closing to traffic". SFGate. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  23. "Declaration of Civil Emergency" (PDF). City of Salisbury, Maryland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  24. "Sandy picks up speed, may make landfall in Delaware or southern NJ". Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  25. "Sandy pummels West Virginia as grueling recovery begins on East Coast". CNN. 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  26. "A STATE-BY-STATE LOOK AT SUPERSTORM'S EFFECTS". AP. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  27. "Sandy death toll in US rises to 109; 'there could be more,' Bloomberg warns". NBC News. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  28. "$40 million in storm damage in Somerset". The Daily Times. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
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