Storm Sends Residents Scurrying For Supplies (with VIDEO)

At an Ellicott City  off Montgomery Road, nearly two-dozen frenzied shoppers crowded the store’s checkout counters, creating a zigzag line that took extra help to control.

Outside the store, Catonsville resident Tammy Kistler had a cart full of wares. 

“I’m just picking up some non-perishable items because I’m afraid the freezer is going to go out,” Kistler said. “I’m not overly concerned; but you know-precautionary.” 

Resident Mark Schaffer, who was filling his car Friday at a Reisterstown gas station, was in a similar mode. 

“The first thing I did was fill up my tank of gas, which considering the price was pretty hefty,” Schaffer said. “I’ve purchased bottled water, we’ve just purchased some additional food, and after I go to work I’m coming back and taking everything off my deck in order to make it as safe as possible.” 

Like many of the state’s residents, Kistler and Schaffer are preparing for Hurricane Irene, a Category 2 storm that is set to hit Maryland Saturday night into Sunday.

But some residents were more laissez-faire.

“I’m just depending on faith,” said Reisterstown resident Sue Turnbaugh as she filled up her gas tank in town. "I have no plans. Whatever happens, happens.”

Bruce Bedard of Columbia said people tend to overly prepare for a storm. 

“I see everyone out grabbing their necessities like their milk, their eggs, their bread, and several un-necessities like septic pumps, cat litter and things that they really don’t need,” Bedard noted as he came out of the Ellicott City grocery store.

In the meantime, Gov. Martin O’Malley Thursday declared a statewide emergency, urging citizens to prepare supplies to sustain them for 72 hours as the hurricane moves through Maryland. A county emergency has also been declared in Carroll County.

In addition, the governor ordered a mandatory evacuation of Ocean City.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm is expected to touch down on the Mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night into Sunday. At the moment there is a tropical storm warning for Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Howard County, and Prince George’s County, among other counties in Maryland. In those areas, the maximum wind forecast is said to be in the 30-40 mph range with gusts up to 50 mph. A flash flood watch is also in effect, with rain expected to accumulate up to 6 inches.

While many people in the area were preparing for the storm, most of those interviewed for this report did not express serious concerns.

“I grew up on Long Island. I’ve been around hurricanes before,” said Ellicott City resident Kathy Martin, who was out shopping at Safeway. “You know there’s not much you can do about it. You’ve got to make sure you have stuff in your house and sit tight until the storm is out."

But for those who have to work over the weekend, the danger of driving caused some fear.

“I’m a little anxious about it when you consider the earthquake earlier in the week,” said Terri Thomas of Owings Mills, who was picking up supplies at the Walmart off Reisterstown Road. “I have to work tomorrow so I’m concerned about not only the safety of my family but just the anxiety my associates will experience having to make it out in the weather.”

Others expressed anxiety about the power outage.

According to a Baltimore Gas and Electric Company press release, the company is planning for the potential of 500,000 or more customer outages as early as Saturday afternoon. Officials are warning residents that outages could last several days.  In the meantime, BGE has called in 850 out-of-state and contract staff to deal with the storm and will have 3,700 personnel on call for repairs.

Pepco made robo calls to customers to warn of potential widespread outages.

“I just went to Target to try to get flashlights. They were completely out,” said Reisterstown resident Eva Savold as she topped off her gas tank in Reisterstown. “I did buy batteries; I’m hoping that I can find a flashlight somewhere else.”

Savold said the storm hype had gotten to her.

“I wasn’t really worried until you start hearing the news reports because in the beginning of the week it wasn’t that bad. And now it sounds like it’s going to be very, very serious. But I hope that we’re inland enough that I hope it doesn’t affect us too bad."              

Debbie Brindle, who works at Ellicott City’s , was also in preparation mode.

“I’m trying to get ready for whatever happens,” Brindle said while at work at the bakery Thursday. “During the earthquake I lost cell phone service right away. That made me really tense because I felt alone.”

She added that the bakery employees are preparing for the storm by cleaning out drains and piling items high.

Yet still other residents were more relaxed about the situation—expressing a desire get on with their lives. 

“For me this is just a big pain,” 21-year-old Catonsville resident Laura Boehk said while she sipped coffee at Old Mill Bakery Thursday. “I’m not really worried about it."