Go Montgomery!

Another summer storm caused widespread damage in Montgomery County on August 12. 
The storm left about 75,000 customers without power, 32 roads closed and localized flooding in its wake. Many County facilities and traffic signals also lost power. 

 

By law, County staff cannot touch trees entangled in power lines – only the power utility crews can do so. During the storm aftermath, County crews worked in tandem with Pepco crews. As soon as Pepco removed wires or cut power to downed utility lines, County crews worked quickly to clear roads of debris and get traffic moving again. Pepco also employs tree crews who remove downed trees or cut down ones damaged by the storm.

 

Residents can report downed trees or tree debris in the public right-of-way by calling 311, or going to the 311 website at http://montgomerycountymd.gov/311.   The 311 call center handles all non-emergency service or information requests. Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

 

Communication during an emergency is critically important. Residents are urged to register for Alert Montgomery, which sends messages about severe weather, traffic problems or emergencies directly to cell phones, PDAs and emails. It will take less than five minutes to sign up for this critical service on the County’s website.  News and the most recent updates are also available on the County’s Facebook page and through Twitter.  To sign up, go to the County’s website.

 

Information in the flyer “What You Should Know When an Emergency Strikes in Montgomery County (pdf)” includes useful phone numbers and tips for any emergency.