The Spirit of Community

OPINION: Perry Hall Neighbors Helped Out After Sandy

Even in the midst of trying circumstances, as a result of the blustery visit of Hurricane Sandy, we can still be grateful for the kindness of friends and neighbors.

Like many people, my family and I were taken aback by the significant degree of damage done by last week's visit from Hurricane Sandy, especially in New York and New Jersey. In spite of the event officially being labeled "only" a Category 1 storm—the weakest hurricane possible—high winds, floodwaters, and even blizzard conditions have made their presence known up and down the East Coast. The power of this storm was truly something to behold. Now mind you, this was not the Smith family's first brush with a hurricane.  During 2005, we happened to chose to visit my in-law's vacation home in Florida during Hurricane Katrina's swing through that state in August; our visit during October of that year coincided with Hurricane Wilma, the most …

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16.5 Million Gallons of Sewage Overflow Into Baltimore County Waterways

The Baltimore County Public Works Department reported Monday night that 12 pumping stations that lost power on Sunday during Hurricane Irene resulted in overflows.

Nearly 17 million gallons of sewage overflowed Sunday into 10 different rivers and streams throughout Baltimore County as a result of power outages caused by Hurricane Irene at a dozen pumping stations, county officials reported Monday. Five stations in the county’s southeast overflowed—Delmar, Masseth Avenue, Chesapeake Terrace, Hyde Park and Fort Howard, according to the Baltimore County Department of Public Works press release. In the north, the Forge Acres, Buchanan Road and Texas pump stations overflowed. And on the west side, the Patapsco, Frederick Road, Valley Village and Carroll Avenue stations spilled over. The 8:26 p.m. press release on Monday stated that the sewage overflows occurred on Sunday. County officials also reported …

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Is Rafting After a Hurricane a Good Idea?

Two Dundalk residents took inflatable rafts into the Gunpowder River in Kingsville Sunday morning.

Ron Miller claims to be a safety fanatic. "Before the hurricane, we boarded up the house. We had probably 600 bottles of water," said the Dundalk resident. But when it comes to outdoor adventure, Miller is fearless, and maybe even a little reckless.  Late Sunday morning, just hours after Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc across Maryland, he and friend Brian Abel hopped aboard small inflatable rafts and floated down the Gunpowder River near the Perry Hall-Kingsville line. The water appeared to have risen more than a foot in depth since Saturday morning. Neither men wore life jackets. Miller, a U.S. Army veteran and HVAC technician, said the water isn't as treacherous as it may appear. "I'm as safe as I can be ... I wouldn't get myself hurt," he…

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Tim

10:03 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

On another note: Emily, how did you find out about this to begin with? Additionally, what was the thought process behind actually posting this bit of idiocy? I sincerely question it.   more ›

It's a Nice Day for a Wet Wedding

Ann Marie DeSimone and Archie Vann Bassett weren't about to let a little wind and rain stand in the way of their wedding.

Despite the wind and rain preceeding the arrival of Hurricane Irene's nasty center, Ann Marie DeSimone and Archie Vann Bassett were determined to stick to their year-long plan of an Aug. 27 wedding. And that's just what they did in Parkville on Saturday when the happy couple said "I do" in St. Ursula's Catholic church outside Baltimore. DeSimone, a 29-year-old Parkville native who works in advertising, wed 33-year-old Vann Bassett at 2:30 p.m., just as the edge of Hurricane Irene began to dampen the region. After a bevy of photos were taken, the newlyweds were heading over to their 5 p.m. reception at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel in Towson. They were not about to cancel the party.  "If the lights go out—and power—we've got candles on…

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Expert: Prevent Basement Flooding Before it Starts

Clearing gutters and unclogging drains goes a long way to prevent basement flooding.

A few minutes of preparation could save you hours of removing water from your basement and thousands of dollars in damages. Todd Coleman, president of Basement Waterproofing Tech in Perry Hall, spoke with Patch on the eve of Hurricane Irene's expected rampage through Maryland. His advice to homeowners was simple: prevent basement flooding before the storms strike. "Some people, no matter what you tell them, they won't do anything until the eleventh hour and by then it's too late," said Coleman, who has worked on basements throughout Maryland for the past 15 years.  He offered several tips for homeowners to prevent flooding and quickly remove water if it seeps in. Before heavy rain or storms: If flooding occurs: Basement Waterproofing Tech …

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Your Hurricane Irene Dashboard

Here are some guidelines for keeping safe in case the hurricane affects the D.C./Baltimore area, including advice from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Baltimore County Office of Emergency Management in Towson.

The rain we're experiencing today has nothing to do with Hurricane Irene, a category three hurricane, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Ocean City, MD, officials have ordered an emergency evacuation by midnight of the resort town. Gov. Martin O'Malley declared a state of emergency. Irene could hit the Baltimore area as a tropical storm on Sunday.  To find out where Irene is now, and get details about the storm, visit the National Weather Service's National Hurricane Center. As of 8 a.m. today, Irene's probable path could touch the southern tip of the Virginia coast, as well as Maryland's Eastern Shore, on Sunday as a hurricane, according to the website. At 2 p.m., that storm is expected to hit in and near Maryland at …

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