Salisbury Officials Offers Storm Safety Reminders

SALISBURY, Md. — As storms continue to move through Delmarva, officials are reminding residents to stay safe by following a few key safety tips.

Salisbury Fire Department Chief Rob Frampton said people should avoid walking or driving through standing water during periods of heavy rain because there is no way to know how deep the water may be.

“Turn around, don’t drown, is something that we strongly — we get a lot of calls for vehicles that are stranded in standing water or flood waters, and there’s really no reason for that. If you see the water and you can’t see the road, don’t drive through it. That’s really the safest thing we can tell you during the downpours,” Frampton said.

Once the storm has passed, Frampton said residents should also be cautious of downed trees and power lines. Instead of trying to clear debris themselves, they should notify their utility company or local public works department.

“It could be at night or the storm still going on. As today, it’s a little bit darker outside. It’s hard to see. So, there may be a power line in that tree limb that you think you’re simply pulling off the road. And if it’s energized, it could, you know, electrocute you and, you know, cause significant injury,” Frampton said.

Frampton also encouraged residents to give emergency crews plenty of room to work while they respond to storm-related incidents.

He recommended keeping electronic devices charged ahead of future storms in case of power outages. Residents should also have flashlights and first aid kits readily available.

“Make sure flashlights are in hand. First aid kits. When the storm’s coming, if there’s a watch, that just means, like, be prepared. Get ready. When you see the warning, that means take action. Like, you know, get in a safe, secure place inside your house, away from windows, outside doors and things like that,” Frampton said.