Delaware: Limited State of Emergency for Sussex; winter storm conditions limit travel
2:50 PM: Delmarva Power is reporting 58 customers without power near Dupont Blvd in Sussex County. Estimated time of restoration is 6 PM.
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1 PM: Delmarva Power is reporting 117 customers without power in Sussex County in Bennum. Additionally, 16 more customers are without power in Rehoboth Beach.
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12 PM: With Winter Storm Warnings in effect through 6 PM Saturday in Sussex and Kent Counties, Gov. Jack Markell has issued a Limited State of Emergency for Sussex County with a Level 1 Driving Warning.
"Heavy winds and below freezing temperatures overnight and into this morning have made this a challenging storm and it is important for Delawareans in Sussex County to recognize the hazardous driving conditions resulting from this snowfall," Gov. Markell said.
State law mandates that any person driving on Delaware roadways during a Level 1 Warning must exercise extra caution.
Officials say that a State of Emergency allows Gov. Markell to authorize the National Guard and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency to take precautionary or responsive action if needed. DelDOT is also authorized to order bridge or road closures if necessary.
DelDOT officials report they are currently plowing roads in Sussex County, where the bulk of the snow in Delaware has fallen.
DelDOT offers a Snow Plow Tracker that allows people to see where DelDOT snow plows are in real time.
In Rehoboth Beach, Georgetown, Millsboro and Millville, Beebe Healthcare walk-in care locations are all closed after 11 AM. All Beebe Healthcare Outpatient Services locations will be closed as of 11 AM as well, officials said. The Beebe Emergency Department remains open in Lewes.
Dagsboro Mayor Brian Baull echoes Gov. Markell's message, saying, "if you don't have to go out on the roads today, please don't. Stay home, stay off the roads and let the snow plows do their jobs without having to worry about vehicles being out that shouldn't be."
As reported yesterday, Georgetown is currently under its Snow Emergency Plan, meaning cars parked on snow emergency routes will be towed at owner's expense. Additionally, town ordinance requires sidewalks be cleared by property owners within 24 hours after snow stops falling.
