Anne Arundel Tornado Cleanup Prompts State Of Emergency

EDGEWATER, MD — In response to the tornado damage caused by remnants of Tropical Depression Ida on Wednesday afternoon, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman has placed the county under a local state of emergency.

The designation means that county officials can deploy any resources necessary and use the emergency powers granted to the county executive to protect the health and safety of Anne Arundel County residents, Pittman's office said in a news release.

The state of emergency executive order can be found here, and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley placed his city under a state of emergency, as well.

Pittman, who visited the hardest-hit parts of Londontown after the tornado hit Wednesday night, said he found "an impressive display of community and government getting things done."

"City and county work as a team in these situations, and what they’re facing in the commercial strip in Annapolis along West Street and in the residential areas south in Edgewater is devastating," Pittman said in a statement. "We will continue to work as a team to ensure the recovery of our residents and businesses."

Related: Annapolis Tornado: Dozens Of Homes, Commercial Buildings Damaged

The tornado hit Annapolis at around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, after traveling through the Londontown and Edgewater areas.

Pittman toured damaged areas Wednesday evening along West Street in Annapolis and in the Londontown community, and joined Gov. Larry Hogan Thursday morning to see the damage at the Center of Applied Technology South in Edgewater.

The Department of Public Works has deployed Dumpsters to areas with damage so residents can dispose of storm debris. Residents are asked to limit the use of these Dumpsters to storm-related debris only:
Debris Management #1
Type: Two (2) dumpsters
Location: Lot across from Woodland Beach VFD

Debris Management #2
Type: Two (2) Dumpsters
Location #1: 400 Block of Shore Dr
Location marked with "Permit Parking Only" sign

Location #2: 1900 Block of Shore Dr.
Location marked with "Permit Parking Only" sign

Affected residents can also visit one of two family assistance centers from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The Edgewater family assistance center will be located at the Southern District Police Station community room. The Annapolis family assistance center will be located at the Mount Olive AME Church.

Residents can also report damage by contacting the Office of Emergency Management at 410-222-0600. If the call is after hours, residents should leave a message with their name, number, and the type and amount of damage incurred.

An alternate format is available upon request. Contact the Office of Emergency Management at 410-222-0600 or [email protected]. TTY users, please call via Maryland Relay 7-1-1.

A new web damage assessment portal has also launched. The portal, created by the Office of Emergency Management in partnership with the Fire Department, will be used for gathering data on damages caused by the storm.

Residents and businesses can report any damage incurred as a result of the storm by filling out the form, which can be found here, now through Sept. 23. The survey is not a substitute for submitting insurance claims, and submitting to it does not guarantee federal, state or local reimbursement, officials said.

"Data collection helps determine the severity of impact an incident or disaster has on individuals and communities, which can help us prepare for future events," OEM Director Preeti Emrick said in a statement.

(Do you have photos of tornado damage in the Edgewater area? Email your pictures to [email protected]. By sending us photos, you give Patch permission to publish them online.)

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