Maryland
CRISFIELD, Md. (AP) - Life is slowly returning to normal after Superstorm Sandy clobbered the Mid-Atlantic region and moved on.
Across the region, the effects of the storm were felt most;u along coastal stretches of Maryland's Eastern Shore and in Delaware - as well as in the snow-covered mountains of western Maryland. But it was clear Wednesday that the state of Maryland had escaped the brunt of damage.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who visited hard-hit Crisfield on the Eastern Shore, says the state "dodged a cannonball" for the most part. About 100,000 customers in Maryland remained without power Wednesday, though that number was dropping.
Governor Martin O'Malley
OAKLAND, Md. (AP) Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley says all of the state's resources are focused on Garrett County where thousands of mountain residents remain without power days after the heavy snow triggered by Superstorm Sandy
O'Malley spoke to reporters Thursday in Oakland after meeting with local mayors, county commissioners and state legislators.
He says he main concern is getting help to senior citizens and checking on the welcome of sick and disabled people
O'Malley says the Maryland Emergency Management Agency has temporarily moved its headquarter to Garrett County to respond to the problems.
Governor Martin O’Malley took a tour of the devastated areas in the Crisfield pledging state support to rebuild the town.
The Governor, who was accompanied by Mayor Percy Purnell, declared, “We’re going to rebuild Crisfield stronger than she was before.”
Behind the two leaders was a damaged City Dock hit hard by the hurricane.
The Governor said it was still too early to know the extent of the devastation.
As bad as the storm was O’Malley said compared with other states Maryland had “dodged a cannonball.”
Water
The Somerset County Health Department continues to warn Crisfield residents to use bottle or boiled water, because the waster could be contaminated from flooding associated with Hurricane Sandy.
The advisory is a precautionary measure and will be liefted after water service and quality are fully restored and water quality tests verify the tafety of the water supply. This process may take several days.
Senator Barbara Mikulski
BALTIMORE (AP) - Sen. Barbara Mikulski is scheduled to tour the Red Cross Superstorm Sandy disaster operations center.
The Maryland senator also will meet with workers and volunteers on Thursday in Baltimore
The center is the headquarters for Maryland and Delaware Red Cross disaster relief activities. They have been up and running since Saturday.
Two hundred Red Cross workers from around the nation have been deployed to Maryland and Delaware to provide help in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Voting
In Salisbury, voters will be able to cast their ballots at the Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center in the DaNang Room through Friday as part of the extension of early voting in Maryland.
The state of Maryland is making up for the time lsot during Hurricane Sandy earlier this week.
Delaware
DOVER, Del. (AP) - Gov. Jack Markell has ended the state of emergency he declared for Delaware as Hurricane Sandy approached.
Markell lifted the state of emergency Wednesday afternoon after Sussex County officials reported that all evacuation zones were inspected for safety and cleared to reopen.
The states of emergency for Kent and New Castle counties ended Tuesday.
Shelters in each county at Indian River High School, Dover High School and William Penn High School that had remained open Tuesday night closed Wednesday morning.
While ending the state of emergency, Markell authorized the Delaware National Guard to continue providing support for storm cleanup and damage assessment operations.
Official said homeowners and business owners should report property damage to their local emergency office.
Red Cross
The Red Cross is getting a $2-thousand donation from Delmarva Power as the relief agency struggles to deal wkth the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Red Cross of Delmarva CEO Pat Delaney says that organization will use the money to provide immeidate emergency assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy,.
Radio Station WDEL reports that the donation is part of a larger $0-thousand gift from Delmarva's parent company, Pepco Holdings, to the Red Cross across the region.
Chesapeake Bay
SOLOMONS, Md. (AP) - Researchers are fanning out across the Chesapeake to see what Sandy has wrought.
So far, indications are the impact has not been as great as last fall when a pair of tropical storms caused widespread flooding throughout the northeast that dumped mud, debris and sewage into the bay. Chesapeake Bay Foundation scientist Beth McGee says the high flows that accompanied tropical storms Irene and Lee last fall haven't materialized following Sandy.
Bob Orth, a scientist with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and leader of an annual baywide survey of underwater grasses, says his gut feeling is that the storm's effect on bay grasses was probably minimal. Orth says the timing of the storm helped because it hit after the growing season has ended for bay grasses.
