The St. Mary's County Emergency Operation Center is coordinating efforts to assist citizens in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ernesto.
Teams are being coordinated to begin surveying some of the damage caused by the storm, including fallen trees mangled with downed power lines. Citizens are encouraged to continue to take safety precautions by waiting at least two hours before returning to their homes until an initial survey is complete and officials have an opportunity to clear some roadways.
The Department of Public Works and State Highway are working together with SMECO to clear blocked roadways. However, citizens are urged to stay off the roads. If you must travel, use extreme caution when passing through intersections with non-functioning traffic lights due to power outages and obey state and local law enforcement that are directing traffic.
All six (6) St. Mary's Convenience Centers and the St. Mary's Landfill will be opening on time at 8:00 a.m. to accept trash and small debris. Additional disposal site(s) for large debris will be determined and advertised once damage assessment reports have been completed and evaluated. St. Mary's Transit System (STS) will remain operational.
Citizens needing to report loose debris or vessels on waterways throughout the county, may call the Department of Natural Resources Debris Hotline at 877-224-7229, option 3.
Leonardtown High School will remain open as a shelter.
All St. Mary's County Libraries will be opening at noon today, September 2, 2006.
For additional information, please call the Disaster Information Hotline at 301-475-4911/4912.