Check on Your Neighbors & Friends:

As the temperatures remain high and the recovery continues, it is important to check up on your neighbors and friends – whether in adjoining apartments or houses. Don’t assume anything – lend a hand. Call 911 for emergency assistance and 311 for non-emergency help.

County Crews Will Collect Storm Debris After Recovery:

Once power has been restored throughout the County and operations are back to normal, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will provide special storm debris collection. The date the collections will begin and additional details will be provided as soon as the information is available. Residents will be asked to place storm debris in the public right-of-way, ensuring that sidewalks, driveways and roads are not blocked.

MC311 Call Center Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. – call 311 or visit www.MC311.com.

Other Highlights:

• Sixty road segments remain closed. Residents can get real-time information on road closures in their neighborhoods on line at http://www5.montgomerycountymd.gov/snowmap/. Enter an address and zoom in to see detailed neighborhood information. Closed roads, or portions of roads that are closed, will appear in black on the map, as noted in the legend on the left side of the page.

• PEPCO reports about 30,000 customers are still without power in Montgomery County.

Recreation:

Due to continued power outage the following program and activities are cancelled for Thursday July 5, 2012
• Ashburton Elementary: Summer Fun Center
• Blair Ewing Center: Camp Apollo, Achilles, Personal Pursuit
• Clara Barton Rec Center:Summer Fun Center, All programs and activities
• Norwood Local Park (Bethesda): Art Camp
• Pyle Middle School:Coach Doug programs – Challenger Rocketry; Challenger Space, Kids Keys and Sports , Before and after care, all programs and activities
• Rock Creek Park:Camp Hidden Spring
• Ross Boddy Rec Center:Summer Fun Center, All programs and activities
• Sligo Dennis Park Site:Summer Fun Center
• Tilden Woods Park Site:Camp Explorer
Holiday Park Senior Center - All programs and activities
Updated information and information about tomorrow evening activities will be posted on the cancellation line at 240-777-6889 or on the Department of Recreation website.
Important Tips:
• Stay up-to-date with changes, cancellations, etc. by subscribing to Alert Montgomery at https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov.
• To report “hot” or sparkling wires, especially those across roadways, call 911.
• To report power outages, call Pepco at 877-737-2662, Potomac Edison at 888-544-4877 or Baltimore Gas & Electric at 877-778-2222.

Status of County Services:

Traffic signals
There are still 30 traffic signals without power. County Police are directing traffic at critical intersections throughout the County. Drivers are reminded to treat “dark” intersections as four-way stops and be especially aware of pedestrians.

Cooling Center
The County continues to operate a cooling shelter at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Dr., Rockville, for residents who are still without power in their homes.

Food Safety
Food in the refrigerator is safe if the power has been off for no more than four hours. After that, discard perishables such as meat, poultry, soft cheese, eggs and leftovers. Check out http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp for more details and a chart. A full freezer can keep food frozen for 48 hours after a loss of power. A half-full freezer can keep food frozen for 24 hours.

Transit
Ride On buses are operating, but expect delays on a few routes due to downed trees, wires and signal outages. Check the website at www.rideonbus.com and click on Delays and Detours for the latest information.

Trash, recycling collections
There was no County-provided recycling or trash collections on Wednesday, July 4. Collections for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will shift later by one day.

To sign up for trash holiday reminders as email and/or text messages, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/solidwaste.