Local News

 If you see news happening email our News Director Amanda Mangan at amangan@alleganyradio.com or send us a text message at 301-676-1005. Standard text messaging rates apply.  

SEND US YOUR WINTER STORM PICTURES TO AMANGAN@WVRADIO.COM

Gov. Joe Manchin released the following statement after he traveled across the state today with Director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Jimmy Gianato, assessing damage caused by the recent winter storm: “The storm caused significant damage across our state. Today, we viewed some of the hardest hit areas. I did not realize how much damage until I saw it with my own eyes - massive amounts of trees had collapsed, buildings were damaged and many power lines were down. “With destruction, comes hope and helping hands of volunteers and neighbors, which I saw first-hand today. Every time I see a West Virginian helping a fellow resident, I am reminded why our state is truly special. I am very grateful to all who have helped those in need. Many of our national guard members, highway workers, forestry workers, state employees, private businesses and first responders have worked around the clock to ensure that West Virginians are safe and utilities are restore as quickly as possible.  While many are still helping to dig people out, I applaud their outstanding, ongoing efforts, especially as the state braces for more winter weather.”
 

Maryland state troopers answered thousands of calls for service during the weekend storm, but most of those calls involved disabled or unattended vehicles caught in the snow.From noon Friday, February 5th, through 11:00 p.m. yesterday, February 7th, troopers across Maryland responded to more than 2,900 calls for service.  Of those, more than 1,300 involved vehicles that had become disabled or were found unattended along an interstate or state highway.  Troopers at the Frederick Barracks dealt with 140 disabled/unattended vehicles, the most of all 22 barracks.  They were followed by Waterloo Barracks in Howard County (131), Glen Burnie Barracks in Anne Arundel County (130), and Golden Ring Barracks in Baltimore County where troopers handled 112 disabled or unattended vehicles. Troopers responded to 389 traffic crashes.  Most of those crashes (232) involved minor property damage and no personal injury.  Troopers handled 157 crashes that involved either personal injury and/or damage significant enough to require the vehicle to be towed.  Troopers at the Forestville and College Park barracks in Prince George’s County handled a combined 56 crashes, while troopers at the Rockville Barracks in Montgomery County handled 55 crashes. Troopers made 685 requests for tow trucks during the period.  More than 100 requests were made by troopers from the Glen Burnie Barracks, who patrol Anne Arundel County.  Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police is today reminding motorists that travel is still hazardous in many locations around the state.  While most of the interstates are incredibly clear, there are still areas of some that are snow and ice covered, which can create a serious hazard for the unsuspecting driver.  Travel is even less predictable on secondary roads. Vehicles that are still abandoned on state roads and interstates continued to be towed and stored by Maryland State Police in order to facilitate snow removal by the State Highway Administration.  No parking is permitted on state roads or interstates when the snow emergency plans are in effect.  The most vehicles stored by troopers were in Prince George’s County, where 33 vehicles were towed away and in Montgomery County, where troopers stored 28 automobiles. Drivers whose vehicles were towed from state routes by State Police should contact the barracks nearest to where the vehicle was left.  A list of barracks and locations is available at www.mdsp.org  Additional troopers remain on patrol as cleanup from the weekend snow continues and preparations are made for the predicted mid-week storm.  Troopers assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Automotive Safety Enforcement Division, and the Special Operations Division, have been reassigned to road patrol duties to supplement the regular patrol force across Maryland. 

For the latest power outage information click here

 For snowfall totals click here

14hundred without power in Hampshire County for more information listen to the interview with Mike Crouse Hampshire County Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

16 percent of Hardy County without power for more information listen to the interview with Dave Workman Hardy County Emergency Management office Public Information Officer

Bryan Jackson Meterologist with the National Weather Service discusses snowfall totals, and what we can expect this week

Peggy Alt with Grant County Office of Emergency Management talks about what they have seen this weekend

The Maryland State Police in Frederick County are busy handling numerous personal injury accidents, disabled vehicles, and property damage accidents.  The roadways in Frederick County are in passable condition, but troopers have reported citizens driving at speeds greater than reasonable, failing to properly clean their vehicles, making abrupt lane changes when they observe snow in a lane, etc.  There are areas on the interstate that have drifted over with snow and areas of ice and snow.  The MSP urges people to stay off the roadways except for emergency purposes only as SHA and County Road Crews are still working to clear the roads. Please evaluate why you are on the roads and if possible, stay home.  Your safety is our main concern and the highways are not cleared. 

To hear audio from Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's Saturday evening press conference  part 1  part 2   part 3   part 4   part 5   part 6

Governor Martin O’Malley today warned Marylanders to stay home and not travel to avoid life-threatening and extremely treacherous conditions across Maryland.  Precipitation has stopped across the state but it will take highway crews days to get travel lanes, ramps, shoulders and turn lanes clear along interstates, U.S. and MD routes.  Temperatures are dropping, making travel even more dangerous when vehicles become stranded and passengers are trapped with the potential to get hypothermia. During a press briefing today at the State Highway Administration Operations Center, Governor O’Malley stressed that this snow is a different snow than the one we had in December – it is heavier, colder and significantly higher accumulation.  The Governor cautioned that even though the sun may come out Sunday, the roads will not be completely clear and safe and citizens should not be tempted to try to go anywhere, even to Super Bowl events.  Doing so may be risking your life. In addition to plowing snow, SHA crews have rescued stranded motorists along the highways. SHA has worked all day to clear traffic stopped on I-95 southbound between I-695 in Baltimore County and MD 175 in Howard County due to several disabled trucks and vehicles.  Drivers have been trapped in the miles-long back-up and as temperatures drop into the teens, this is a life-threatening situation.  Traffic is now moving and the back up should be cleared this evening. Crews have worked non-stop since Friday and continue to battle the storm.  SHA will switch to shifts overnight to allow crews to rest.  As temperatures drop, the snow on roads will freeze and become hard crusted ice, making driving more treacherous.  This also requires SHA to use front-end loaders to haul out the snow.  The removal process for this amount of snow will be slow and tedious, so realistically, conditions will continue to be challenging at least through early next week. “If people stay home, we have a much better chance of making headway on plowing the highways.” said Transportation Secretary Beverely Swaim-Staley.  “We can’t stress enough that you need to stay home to stay safe and allow our crews to clear the snow.” Throughout the weekend, Governor O’Malley visited the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and managed and monitored conditions from For the latest weather and road conditions and to view live traffic cameras during the storm, citizens can log onto www.roads.maryland.gov and click on CHART.  Customers may also follow SHA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mdsha or call the Winter Storm hotline at 1-800-327-3125 for a regularly updated message with weather and roadway conditions.  If you need to report a non-emergency issue for SHA, please log onto the website and click on the Service Request link from the “Contact Us” page.