UPDATE (Aug. 8): Numerous roads closures, hazards and power outages were reported across Carroll County after Monday night’s severe storms.Officials ask residents to report non-emergency road issues via Click Report (do not call 911 unless it’s an emergency).| LIST: Carroll County road closures as of 5:45 a.m. Tuesday (PDF)Due to the power outage, the phone lines at the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack are out of service. Emergency calls can be made to 443-789-7278.Carroll County government offices are closed to the public Tuesday. The Resource Recovery Park (Northern Landfill) will open on a limited basis collecting only yard and tree debris (no trash). | MORE: Interactive traffic map | Road closures across MarylandMaryland Gov. Wes Moore surveyed the storm damage in Westminster and received a briefing from county officials Tuesday morning. Speaking shortly afterward, the governor thanked first-responders and others, like bus drivers, who helped people affected by the storm damage.”What we saw last night and today is Maryland at its best,” Moore said. “Because of those people, last night, lives were saved. There were people who were stuck in their cars who were able to sleep in their own beds last night.”ORIGINAL STORY (Aug. 7): Severe storms battered a major Westminster road, snapping numerous utility poles and trapping dozens of cars.Maryland State Police said 33 adults and 14 children were trapped in 34 vehicles on Maryland Route 140, as Baltimore Gas and Electric crews worked to de-energize the downed power lines. The utility called the damage catastrophic.”I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve lived here all my life. We’ve had a lot of tornado warnings, a lot of tornado scares and hurricanes, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” resident Bella Adinolfi told 11 News.No injuries were immediately reported. The dozens of people stuck in their cars on Route 140 between Marketplace and Center streets were taken by a shuttle to a safe location some five hours after 30 high-voltage poles went down. Officials said they were helping those trapped by providing water and other necessities.”One of the challenges is that it’s also wet because it rained, so we don’t know where it is the electricity could travel. Some of the wires are across the vehicles themselves, so we just want to make sure the electricity is off before we start moving people out of their cars,” said Westminster Fire Department spokesman Kevin Dayhoff.State police said they have secured the keys to each stranded vehicle, and troopers will start the process to get owners back with their vehicles.BGE published a news release Monday evening, saying that more than 30 poles were broken by straight-line winds, impacting power service for more than 10,200 customers.According to BGE, as of 9:30 p.m., a total of 89,501 customers were without service. The main areas affected were Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties. The utility called in some 1,000 workers to restore power to the area.Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees said commuters should expect Route 140 to be closed for at least Tuesday morning traffic.
UPDATE (Aug. 8): Numerous roads closures, hazards and power outages were reported across Carroll County after Monday night’s severe storms.
Officials ask residents to report non-emergency road issues via Click Report (do not call 911 unless it’s an emergency).
| LIST: Carroll County road closures as of 5:45 a.m. Tuesday (PDF)
Due to the power outage, the phone lines at the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack are out of service. Emergency calls can be made to 443-789-7278.
Carroll County government offices are closed to the public Tuesday. The Resource Recovery Park (Northern Landfill) will open on a limited basis collecting only yard and tree debris (no trash).
| MORE: Interactive traffic map | Road closures across Maryland
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore surveyed the storm damage in Westminster and received a briefing from county officials Tuesday morning. Speaking shortly afterward, the governor thanked first-responders and others, like bus drivers, who helped people affected by the storm damage.
“What we saw last night and today is Maryland at its best,” Moore said. “Because of those people, last night, lives were saved. There were people who were stuck in their cars who were able to sleep in their own beds last night.”
ORIGINAL STORY (Aug. 7): Severe storms battered a major Westminster road, snapping numerous utility poles and trapping dozens of cars.
Maryland State Police said 33 adults and 14 children were trapped in 34 vehicles on Maryland Route 140, as Baltimore Gas and Electric crews worked to de-energize the downed power lines. The utility called the damage catastrophic.
“I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve lived here all my life. We’ve had a lot of tornado warnings, a lot of tornado scares and hurricanes, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” resident Bella Adinolfi told 11 News.
No injuries were immediately reported. The dozens of people stuck in their cars on Route 140 between Marketplace and Center streets were taken by a shuttle to a safe location some five hours after 30 high-voltage poles went down. Officials said they were helping those trapped by providing water and other necessities.
“One of the challenges is that it’s also wet because it rained, so we don’t know where it is the electricity could travel. Some of the wires are across the vehicles themselves, so we just want to make sure the electricity is off before we start moving people out of their cars,” said Westminster Fire Department spokesman Kevin Dayhoff.
State police said they have secured the keys to each stranded vehicle, and troopers will start the process to get owners back with their vehicles.
BGE published a news release Monday evening, saying that more than 30 poles were broken by straight-line winds, impacting power service for more than 10,200 customers.
According to BGE, as of 9:30 p.m., a total of 89,501 customers were without service. The main areas affected were Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties. The utility called in some 1,000 workers to restore power to the area.
Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees said commuters should expect Route 140 to be closed for at least Tuesday morning traffic.