Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – As Dorian moves up the east coast, Maryland is expected to feel its wrath Friday. Thursday The National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Warning for St. Mary’s, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset & Worcester counties.
“Friday we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw winds 40, 50 maybe even 60 mph in some of those areas as well as with the rain and some potential flooding that comes with this big system,” said Chas Eby, deputy director of Maryland’s Emergency Management Agency.
Eby said said anywhere near the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic Coast could see tidal or coastal flooding.
MDMEMA increased its activation level and is coordinating with the National Weather Service and local emergency management offices around the state to make sure they have the best information possible to make decisions for their areas.
Gov. Larry Hogan said in a press release the state is taking every precaution ahead of the storm’s potential impact on the Lower Shore and St. Mary’s County and urged Marylanders to keep an eye on the forecast.
While St. Mary’s County and the Eastern Shore are expected to see the worst of Dorian, the D.C. metro area could also see effects according to Eby.
“There’s a sharp gradient on this storm, so it is possible if it shifts just a little bit west that there could be some, again, pretty gusty winds and maybe up to a quarter or half inch of rain,” Eby said.
As the state prepares for Dorian’s arrival, Hogan also sent members of the Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to North Carolina Thursday to help with any potential rescues there because of Dorian. MD-HART can make various types of rescues including helping people trapped in swift waters or stuck on rooftops.
Copyright 2019 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Chas Eby with the MDMEMA)
