Dorchester Co. Talks Bolstering Readiness for Severe Weather

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – Following the heavy downpours over the last couple of weeks, Dorchester County leadership is working with Public Works and Emergency Management to create an even stronger response.

At Tuesday’s Dorchester County Council meeting, Public Works Director, Matt Ozman gave a brief rundown of the impacts of rainfall since June 25th.

“So we’re getting anywhere from 1 to 2 inches of rain at a crack and sometimes in less than an hour to 2 hours. And at this point, you know, we’re we’re doing all we can to keep up with the work that we have in emergencies and stuff like that,” says Ozman.

According to Ozman, since the 25th, parts of Dorchester County have received anywhere from eight to ten inches of rain.

Emergency Management Director, James Windsor brought up the severe weather that Dorchester County deems the biggest threats.

And while flooding at the levels we’ve seen in Texas isn’t a concern, they’re bolstering their emergency operations plan.

Windsor says, “We’re also working on updating the emergency operations plan for the county. I’m working with the state of Maryland and the Maryland Emergency Management. They are helping us out a lot without putting a lot of time and effort into that and coordinating with the directors and departments here as well.”

But it doesn’t end with getting help from the state.

As Windsor is encouraging more members of the public to sign up for the county’s emergency alert system.

“If we have enough forecast time to put it out, we will also put things out through EverBridge. I know we’ve done in the past with the hurricanes, like when we had to shut down the Hoopers Island Causeway…” Windsor says to the council.

Windsor says Emergency Management is looking into switching alert systems, but it will not affect the thousands of county residents currently signed up.