In a press conference with reporters, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D) said he expects his state will see more than 300,000 power customers lose service in the near future because of high winds.
He says power outages from high winds, drifting snow and falling tree limbs are responsible for lots of power outages and will be for some time to come. He says at the peak of the weekend storm, there were 160,000 outages. He says that number will double in the hours to come. Because of that, O’Malley expects more emergency shelters to open up.
Road crews have been instructed to plow roads only good enough for emergency crews and humvees to pass. He adds that bare pavement won’t be visible on many roads for several days. He further expresses concern that road crews will have to be diverted to create paths for power crews to get to downed lines.
O’Malley says that it’s “pretty remarkable” that no one in Maryland has died because of the storm but is very concerned about roofs caving in. He says poultry houses on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are collapsing under the snow’s weight and that one roof collapse resulted in the destruction of a brand new fire truck inside that damaged building.
Several ships have entered the port of Baltimore with tons of road salt but getting that salt from the port to depots throughout Maryland has proven to be difficult.
The storm and its ability to pick up moisture from Chesapeake Bay is something O’Malley calls a “swirling double buzz” of a system.
The governor also asks for his citizens not put their hands into snow blowers and not to strain themselves too much shoveling the snow.
O’Malley echoes the praise that other state officials have given to federal officials for helping them obtain federal emergency disaster money.