Storm wallops county | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

After heavy rain drenched the county for several days, flooding roads and sweeping away vehicles. Strong winds knocked out power to thousands, sparking several fires and prompting school officials to close several schools Monday due to power outages.

BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport in Linthicum saw 3.3 inches of rain Sunday and Monday, with more falling in Churchton and Annapolis.

Wind gusts at the airport hit about 40 mph between 10 and 11 p.m. Sunday, according to the weather service. Since rain began Thursday, the airport has seen more than 6 inches of rain, officials said.

County firefighters were busy Sunday and Monday, with at least four water rescues and two house fires caused by fallen electrical wires, said Lt. Frank Fennell, a county Fire Department spokesman.

Calls for vehicles swept away by water came in one after another starting about 7:30 a.m., with the first at Brock Bridge and Whiskey Bottom roads in Maryland City.

A second was called in four minutes later at Furnace Avenue and Elkridge Road in Linthicum. At 7:42 a.m., two vehicles were washed away at Patuxent River and Conway roads. And a report of a Dodge Durango flooded on Lower Pindell Road in Shady Side came in about 9 a.m.

No serious injuries were reported.

Firefighters handled more than double the amount of calls last night than normal, with about 225 between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., Lt. Fennell said. The average for that time period is 100 calls. Of those calls, firefighters responded to 40 for wires down, and more than 20 for flooded basements. Only a half dozen or so were for vehicle crashes, he said.

The county Police Department handled 26 crashes between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., said Sgt. John Gilmer, a county police spokesman. Only one of the crashes resulted in an injury.

The Coast Guard also had their hands full early this morning, with a boat rescue of 14 people, including midshipmen and coaches just after midnight.

The Coast Guard got a call of a 49-foot Mameluke with a broken mast in West River, said Petty Officer John Edwards. The Coast Guard sent a 41-foot boat to the scene and took the 14 people aboard. Everyone was safely returned to Annapolis.

Seven schools were closed Monday due to power outages - five of which are elementary schools, said Bob Mosier, a county school system spokesman. All other schools started after a two-hour delay this morning due to dangerous road conditions, he said.

At the height of the storm, 14,000 customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. in Anne Arundel were without power, according to Linda Foy, a BGE spokesman. Crews worked "very aggressively" to restore downed lines.

By yesterday afternoon, that number was down to 3,675. The highest concentration was between Annapolis, Crownsville and Severna Park, but outages were scatter from Glen Burnie to south county.

"The vast majority of the damage has been associated with trees and tree limbs coming down over power lines," Ms. Foy said.

More than 20 roadways were flooded Monday morning, with half a dozen closed, according to county police and Public Works Department officials. Fallen trees were to blame for at least four road closures in the county.

"Our crews have been working overnight for downed trees and any flooding," said Tracie Reynolds, a county spokesman. "We will continue to work throughout the day. We're expecting more rain, a high tide around noon and there could be a chance of coastal surges. Once high tide comes we'll see waters coming higher. We urge drivers to use caution."

Six county roads remained closed yesterday due to flooding, and 14 more were shut down as Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. crews work to complete repairs to downed wires, said Tracie Reynolds, a county spokesman.

"Once that water recedes, our roads people will inspect them and open them up," said Matt Diehl, a Department of Public Works spokesman.

Public works crews also were busy removing trees branches and other storm debris from county roads, which include most streets without route numbers. The county does not, however, remove debris from private property, including privately maintained roads, Mr. Diehl said.

While thousands are still in the dark, dozens are left with damaged vehicles from fender benders, more serious crashes, and water damage.

In 24 hours, county firefighters received 419 calls for service, more than double the normal daily call number, said Division Chief Michael Cox, a county Fire Department spokesman. Those calls included 42 requests for water to be pumped out of homes; 55 for fallen electrical wires; 61 investigations into hazards, such as a fall tree or a water-logged basement; 67 alarms sounding and small fires; 33 injury accidents; and seven water rescues.

Though the rain has moved on, there are lingering health concerns.

The county Health Department issued a blanket countywide warning against swimming or wading into streams, creeks, rivers or flooded areas for at least 48 hours after the end of the rain. The rain carries bacteria, debris and other hazards into the water, said Elin Jones, a department spokesman.

"We don't want anyone going out wading in the water," she said.

Anyone who does get wet with floodwater should wash well with warm, soapy water.

Ms. Jones also reminds residents to check their wells. If a well was submerged and contaminated with floodwaters, the well should be disinfected. For help, call the Health Department's well program at 410-222-7189 during business hours.

Frank Fennell, a county Fire Department spokesman.

Calls for vehicles swept away by water came in one after another starting about 7:30 a.m., with the first at Brock Bridge and Whiskey Bottom roads in Maryland City.

A second was called in four minutes later at Furnace Branch and Elkridge roads in Linthicum. At 7:42 a.m., two vehicles were washed away at Patuxent River and Conway roads. And a report of a Dodge Durango flooded on Lower Pindell Road in Shady Side came in about 9 a.m.

No serious injuries were reported.

Firefighters handled more than double the amount of calls last night than normal, with about 225 between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., Lt. Fennell said. The average for that time period is 100 calls. Of those calls, firefighters responded to 40 for wires down, and more than 20 for flooded basements. Only a half dozen or so were for vehicle crashes, he said.

The county Police Department handled 26 crashes between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., said Sgt. John Gilmer, a county police spokesman. Only one of the crashes resulted in an injury.

The Coast Guard also had their hands full early this morning, with a boat rescue of 14 people, including midshipmen and coaches just after midnight.

Seven schools were closed Monday due to power outages - five of which are elementary schools, said Bob Mosier, a county school system spokesman. All other schools started after a two-hour delay this morning due to dangerous road conditions, he said.

At the height of the storm, 14,000 customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. in Anne Arundel were without power, according to Linda Foy, a BGE spokesman. Crews worked "very aggressively" to restore downed lines.

By yesterday afternoon, that number was down to 3,675. The highest concentration was between Annapolis, Crownsville and Severna Park, but outages were scatter from Glen Burnie to south county.

The county Health Department issued a blanket countywide warning against swimming or wading into streams, creeks, rivers or flooded areas for at least 48 hours after the end of the rain. The rain carries bacteria, debris and other hazards into the water, said Elin Jones, a department spokesman.