UPDATE (Monday 1:30 p.m.)—Anne Arundel County officials are urging residents to expect heavy rain, high winds and widespread power outages associated with Hurricane Sandy.
For Monday: The county government offices and public schools are closed, and trash collection was canceled.
For Tuesday: The county government offices and public schools are closed, and trash collection was canceled again. According to a release from the Department of Public Works, trash and recycling collections scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of this week will be completed on Wednesday and Thursday. Collections scheduled for Thursday and Friday will take place on Friday and Saturday.
Customers are asked to retrieve their trash, recyclables and yard waste previously placed at the curbside.
County Executive John R. Leopold released a statement Friday asking residents to be prepared for the storm effects starting on Sunday.
“While the latest forecasts have shown the worst of the storm might miss our region, we are still expecting a significant weather event with tropical force winds,” Leopold said in a press release. “Don’t wait to get prepared. Protect your property and your family by making the necessary arrangements, and pay attention to weather warnings and alerts.”
The county's Office of Emergency Management will be posting updates on its Facebook page and started sending phone messages on Friday to residents in flood-prone areas. The code red alert message for residents in low-lying areas instructed: "Be prepared to evacuate if flooding occurs in your area."
The message also advised residents that they can monitor live updates on county cable stations starting on Monday at 9 a.m. on Verizon channel 38 and Comcast channel 98.
Leopold reportedly spoke with officials from Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), who advised they will have 1,300 workers on call in addition to their normal force.
The county's Emergency Operations Center is fully activated, and Annapolis High School located at 2700 Riva Rd. will remain open throughout the storm as an emergency shelter. The shelter accepts pets, but asks that residents bring their own pet food and any medications. As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, there were 27 people at the shelter.
As of Monday afternoon, there were two reported road closures due to a downed tree blocking Mayo Road in Beverly Beach and flooding on River Road south of Herald Harbor.
"Residents should hope for the best but prepare for the worst," Leopold said.
