County to Host SKYWARN Class for Volunteer Weather Spotters
The Calvert County Department of Public Safety is hosting a SKYWARN® Weather Spotter Basics I class on Dec. 12 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Courthouse Square, 205 Main Street in Prince Frederick.
Established by the National Weather Service (NWS), SKYWARN® is a program that trains volunteers to provide timely, accurate reports of severe weather to the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Sterling, Va. SKYWARN® spotter volunteers identify and describe local severe storms.
This information, coupled with Doppler radar, satellite and other data, enables the weather service to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. The Basics I class is the introductory course and prerequisite for all other courses offered. The course covers the following:
-- The basic organization of the National Weather Service
-- The role and importance for the SKYWARN® Spotter
-- NWS products and the watch/warning/advisory system
-- Thunderstorms and thunderstorm threats
-- How to report vital information to the National Weather Service
-- The role of amateur short-wave (HAM) radio in the spotter program
To register, contact the Calvert County Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, at 410-535-1600 or 301-855-1243, ext. 2638, or email oem@co.cal.md.us.
Temporary Closure of Armory Road in Prince Frederick Rescheduled for Dec. 12
Due to inclement weather, the temporary closure of a portion of Armory Road in Prince Frederick has been rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12 beginning at 9 p.m. The road will be closed to traffic during the evening and overnight for the installation of a sewer line.
The work is part of the Armory Road/Chesapeake Boulevard improvement project. Temporary detour signage and barricades will be set up at the intersections of Armory and Dares Beach roads and Armory and Fairground roads. Motorists will detour along Fairground Road to travel between Dares Beach Road and Main Street. Armory Road will re-open before 5 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13.
The four-phase project will result in Armory Road improvements including wider shoulders, sidewalks, pedestrian lighting and more. The road’s name will change to Chesapeake Boulevard and a traffic circle will be installed at its intersection with Dares Beach Road. The project is part of the larger Prince Frederick loop road.
Details of the project can be found at http://www.co.cal.md.us/roadproject. The website includes regular updates as the project progresses and features maps and information on its four phases.
Stay Informed with Calvert County ALERT Citizen Notification System
As the region heads into winter and the promise of rough weather, be prepared by signing up for Calvert County ALERT, a notification system that can alert citizens and businesses about emergency and non-emergency situations.
Calvert County ALERT allows county agencies to communicate with thousands of residents, businesses and visitors within minutes of an emergency. The system can send notifications about severe weather, evacuations, law enforcement actions, missing persons and water and sewer messages. Alerts can be sent using a variety of contact methods, including cell phone, home phone, work phone with an extension, email, text messaging, fax, pager and TDD/TTY. More than one of each type of device can be registered – two or more cell phones, two email addresses, etc. – ensuring users receive life-saving emergency information and important public service messages in minutes.
Once registered, you can customize your profile to choose only the types of alerts you wish to receive. For weather alerts you can choose the times you wish to receive them, though tornado warnings will be sent at any time if you select them in your profile. You can add multiple locations to receive alert information for home, work, a child’s daycare, elderly relative or other specific county addresses. You can change your profile or opt out of the system at any time.
The system allows the county to target specific geographic areas for alerts or send alerts countywide. It can also gather information on citizens with special needs who may need additional help in an emergency.
Sign up by visiting the county website at www.co.cal.md.us and clicking on the Emergency Alerts link. Those without Internet access can call 410-535-1600, ext. 2638, to sign up.
To learn more about emergency preparedness, visit the Calvert County Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, online at www.co.cal.md.us
County Government Urges Preparations for Winter Weather
The Calvert County Division of Emergency Management urges citizens to be prepared for winter weather as forecasts call for colder than normal temperatures.
Winter in Southern Maryland has the potential for strong, blizzard-like winds, extreme cold and heavy accumulations of ice and snow that can disrupt power and communications as well as impede emergency and medical services. Primary concerns are the potential loss of heat, power and telephone service, and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than one day.
Citizens are encouraged to avoid traveling during winter storms unless it is an emergency. This will allow crews to more easily clear area roads. If residents must travel, they should ensure the gas tank is full and carry survival items including a mobile phone, blankets, flashlight/batteries, food, water and a shovel.
Residents should have the following items available:
-- Flashlight and extra batteries
-- Battery-operated NOAA weather radio and portable radio to receive emergency information; these may be your only links to the outside
-- Extra food and water; high-energy food and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration is best
-- Extra medicine and baby items
-- First aid supplies
-- Heating fuel
-- Emergency heating source (fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.)
-- Fire extinguisher and smoke detector
-- Standard, plug-in phone
Residents are encouraged to consider family members or neighbors with special needs and assist them in preparing for winter weather.
To stay informed on approaching weather events, residents should monitor local television channels, radio stations and the Internet. For more information on local preparedness, contact the Calvert County Division of Emergency Management at 410-535-1600, ext. 2638 or e-mail oem@co.cal.md.us.