Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley expanded a state of “pre-disaster emergency” Friday in anticipation of downpours and heavy winds as Tropical Storm Hanna sweeps the region Saturday.
The entire state is now covered by the declaration, which Thursday was limited to the Eastern Shore. It authorizes the deployment of National Guard troops and activates an interstate assistance agreement and federal aid reimbursement.
“While we can never be certain as to the path or the devastation of any storm, it is nonetheless our responsibility out of an abundance of caution to prepare the people of Maryland and the appropriate resources,” O’Malley said in a statement.
No soldiers have been deployed yet, officials said. The state’s Emergency Operations Center has been staffed round-the-close since Saturday.
Forecasters expect the Eastern Shore and southern Maryland to be the hardest hit. Rain up to eight inches and heavy winds with gusts up to 50 miles-per-hour are anticipated beginning Saturday morning. O’Malley said the Bay Bridge may be closed for a period of time and Elk Neck State Forest in Cecil County is closed.
All state parks on the Eastern Shore have stopped taking new camping, full service and camper cabin reservations until Sunday, officials said. Existing reservations will be honored, but campers are urged to contact the parks before arriving to check on weather conditions.
The Tropical Storm Watch posted for Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay was upgraded this morning to a Tropical Storm Warning.
As of 2 p.m. Friday, Hanna had maximum sustained winds near 70 mph and was centered about 310 miles south of Wilmington. The storm was moving toward the northwest near 20 mph. A hurricane watch remained in effect for Edisto Beach, S.C., to the Outer Banks of North Carolina near the Virginia border.
