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Baltimore weather: Sunny and clear skies in forecast until Sunday 17 Oct 3:06 AM (yesterday, 3:06 am)

The Baltimore region should expect sunshine and mostly clear skies to start the weekend before rain chances return Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Saturday, as runners navigate city streets as part of the Baltimore Running Festival, looks pleasant, with mostly sunny and clear skies. The high should be near 69, with a low around 54.

[Get the latest weathercast from FOX45 News]

Rain chances return Sunday, with temperatures climbing to 76. Showers could continue into Sunday night, with a low around 51.

The work week should begin on Monday with morning showers and sunshine, plus a high near 65.

Liens and $1,000 fines: Anne Arundel debates snow penalties 15 Oct 1:00 AM (3 days ago)

Following last winter’s chilling cold and heavy snow, the Anne Arundel County Council is debating how to ensure that residents shovel their walks. But discussions on the bill, which would change the penalties for snowy sidewalks from criminal to civil, have stalled over fines that could quickly climb into the thousands of dollars and potential property liens.

County Executive Steuart Pittman, a Democrat, requested Bill 76-25 in an effort to address the high number of complaints sent by residents last year, according to Ethan Hunt, director of government affairs for the county’s executive branch. Council Chair Julie Hummer, a Laurel Democrat, sponsored the bill, which comes weeks after the Annapolis City Council approved fees up to $2,000 if city property owners don’t clear their snowy sidewalks.

“I started off saying I thought we were different than Annapolis City,” Council Member Nathan Volke, a Pasadena Republican, said, referring to the drafted legislation the council was considering. “But if you’re a business who leaves snow on your sidewalk for three days, you’re at $1,625 and counting. Four days of that you could be over $2,600. Is this what you want to vote for?”

Currently, the Anne Arundel County Police Department is tasked with enforcing penalties for snowy and icy sidewalks. Residents who leave their sidewalks full of snow and ice are in effect guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, subject to fines of up to $10.

If approved, the bill would pass the responsibility of enforcement onto the county’s Department of Inspections and Permits. And penalties could get much more expensive.

“We don’t feel that is a good use of the police officers’ time, and we don’t feel that $10 citation really incentivizes people to get their sidewalks clear,” Hunt said at an Oct. 6 council meeting.

Civil vs. criminal

The bill, if passed, would require those who violate the law to pay fines in accordance with the county code’s penalties for Class D and Class E civil violations.

Residential properties would align with Class E civil offenses: $50 for the first violation; $100 for the second violation; and $500 for the third or any subsequent violation.

All others would be responsible for Class D civil offense fines: $125 for the first violation; $500 for the second violation; and $1,000 for the third or any subsequent violations.

Each day that a violation continues constitutes a separate civil offense. Hunt later added that the bill was “not a revenue-generator” but a means to ensure that residents clear their sidewalks.

“Police are already understaffed and having to go out there with a ruler or whatever it is — there are more pressing issues,” Council Member Pete Smith, a Severn Democrat, said. “I’m not saying that they’re not important, but I think on the civil side of the house, it alleviates a lot of stress and puts it where it should have been in the beginning.”

Smith voiced his support for changing the violation to a civil offense but expressed hesitation at the exorbitant fines.

On the other hand, Democrats Lisa Rodvien and Allison Pickard highlighted that the cost of fines would pale in comparison with those of lawsuits from injuries caused by unkempt sidewalks.

The inspection system would be complaint-driven. Complaints would not be accepted until 24 hours after a weather event, after which the Department of Inspections and Permits would inspect the property, leaving a notice if a violation is found. Inspectors from the department would return after 24 hours to reinspect.

According to the legislation, if the county eventually has to clear the sidewalk, officials would establish a lien on the abutting property.

“So we’re going to lien people’s property for clearing snow? This is like next-level government overreach,” Volke said. “This is not Anne Arundel County.”

Age exemption

The council on Oct. 6 debated removing the lien provision, but the effort ultimately failed along party lines.

Residents age 70 or older are eligible to apply for an exemption from the penalties for not clearing snow and ice. A previous provision in the bill would have enforced penalties for residents age 50 and older before the council amended the legislation to increase the age.

“My support for this is because I hope it incentivizes people to clear their sidewalks for public safety reasons so we can all get around,” Hummer said. “You’re not just going and tacking a ticket on the front door. You’re going to speak to the homeowner or business and say: ‘You need to clean your sidewalk.’”

There is no provision in the bill that requires inspections and permits to speak with property owners.

The ordinance would take effect 45 days after Pittman signs it into law. Its next public hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Have a news tip? Contact James Matheson at jmatheson@baltsun.com, 443-842-2344 or on X @jamesmatheson__

Adjusting to warming world has cost Maryland billions, comptroller says 14 Oct 2:22 PM (4 days ago)

Climate change has already cost Maryland between $10 billion and $20 billion in cleanup efforts following 85 extreme weather events that have hit the state since 1984, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman said at a symposium Tuesday. But, she added, not preparing for continuing changes would cost the state far more in the future.

Lierman spoke at the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Climate Health and Policy in Maryland Symposium Tuesday. She joined Maryland researchers and student interns who presented their findings on how the changing climate affects individual and public health.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supports Lierman’s statements — the federal agency also estimates climate change has already cost Maryland $10 to $20 billion. The Chesapeake Bay, which has risen by a foot in the last century, is projected to rise 5 feet over the next 100 years. Although the state plans to reduce carbon emissions with $8 billion in new investments by 2031, more frequent and intense heat waves increase the risk of heat exhaustion, stroke and heart attacks in Marylanders.

Extreme weather events take a toll on Maryland homeowners, businesses and farms, Lierman said. They also impose a secondary cost when insurance premiums rise or when homeowners cannot get insurance for hurricanes, wind or flooding in coastal areas.

“Climate change is not just an environmental issue,” Lierman said. “It’s an economic issue, it’s a justice issue, and it’s a health issue.

“Low-income communities and communities of color are bearing the brunt of these events,” Lierman added. “They may not always have the resources to evacuate, they take longer to recover and the worsening climate takes a lasting toll on people’s health and well-being.”

Extreme climate events are projected to cost the state another $27 billion by the year 2040, she said, “but of course, the longer we wait, the more expensive it gets.”

The Maryland Climate Pollution Reduction Plan seeks to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2031, and reach net-zero emissions by 2045. The plan will require an estimated $8 billion in additional investment by 2031.

Lierman also chairs Maryland’s investment committee, which manages a $74 billion portfolio on behalf of 415,000 retired state employees.

“Even if the federal administration doesn’t believe in climate change and wants to say that climate change should not be accounted for in investment decisions,” Lierman said, “we have to take climate change into account, because it will fundamentally affect our returns.”

Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican, did not respond to request for comment by publication.

On the other hand, Lierman said investing in climate resilience has economic benefits. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Climate Resiliency Report, every $1 invested in resilience and disaster preparedness returns $13 in avoided damages and recovery costs.

“The costs of climate change are staggering,” Lierman said, “but the costs of doing nothing are even more so.”

Have a news tip? Contact Karl Hille at 443-900-7891 or khille@baltsun.com.

Nor’easter brings flooding to Ocean City; mayor taking storm ‘very seriously’ 12 Oct 1:12 PM (6 days ago)

Numerous videos posted to social media Sunday afternoon showed rough surf, mild to moderate street flooding and water nearly touching the Ocean City boardwalk, which sits over 100 yards away from the shoreline.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan said in a video message posted online that the nor’easter — though it has not been named — has the potential to bring flooding to Ocean City similar to what was seen during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

“This is a very serious storm and something we are taking very seriously at the [Emergency Operation Center] in Ocean City,” Meehan said.

Meehan warned residents to prepare for localized power outages and to avoid driving through standing water. With the storm’s severity and potential impact on the city, Meehan said all emergency personnel are “fully staffed and ready to respond.”

A temporary emergency shelter opened at noon Sunday at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway. Those seeking shelter should bring essential items such as food, medications, clothing, chargers and personal necessities.

The Town of Ocean City posted on social media that the shelter will be closing at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Will shutdown impact relief?

Despite a government shutdown, federal disaster relief and resources will still be available if needed by Maryland during and after the storm.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is considered essential personnel and is required to provide service during a government shutdown.

According to Democratic Rep. Sarah Elfreth’s website, FEMA will be able to respond to emergencies, but long-term projects like hazard mitigation projects will suffer delays because of the lack of funding for the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund caused by the shutdown.

Republican Rep. Andy Harris, who represents Maryland’s Eastern Shore, did not respond to The Baltimore Sun’s request for comment on the extent of FEMA assistance available for residents. The Eastern Shore, primarily Ocean City, is expected to be the most impacted by the storm — which began bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and moderate coastal flooding on Saturday night.

The storm, characterized as a nor’easter because of expected winds of nearly 60 mph, is forecasted to intensify Sunday into Monday, with multiple high-tide cycles likely to worsen flooding in low-lying and bayside communities. High tides are expected around 1 p.m. Sunday, 1 a.m. Monday and around 1 p.m. Monday.

According to the National Weather Service, sustained winds are forecast to reach 35 to 45 mph, with gusts exceeding about 57 mph). Ocean City officials warn that 1 to 2 feet of street flooding could occur in several low-lying areas, including downtown from the Inlet to 15th Street, Isle of Wight Mobile Home Park, Warrens Park, Little Salisbury and northern bayside neighborhoods.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.

Ocean City braces for powerful nor’easter with heavy rain, high winds 11 Oct 12:47 PM (7 days ago)

Ocean City is closely monitoring a powerful nor’easter expected to hit the mid-Atlantic beginning Saturday night, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and moderate coastal flooding through Monday.

A nor’easter is a type of storm along the East Coast characterized by strong northeast winds, heavy precipitation and coastal flooding.

“We want our residents, visitors and business owners to take this storm seriously and begin preparing now,” Mayor Richard Meehan said.

According to the National Weather Service, sustained winds are forecast to reach 35 to 45 mph, with gusts exceeding 50 knots. Officials warn that 1 to 2 feet of street flooding could occur in several low-lying areas, including downtown from the Inlet to 15th Street, Isle of Wight Mobile Home Park, Warrens Park, Little Salisbury and northern bayside neighborhoods.

The base of the Route 50 Bridge may also become impassable at times.

Town officials caution that these conditions could lead to flooded roadways and scattered power outages. They urge residents and visitors to remain alert, avoid driving through standing water and prioritize safety. The storm’s impacts are expected to resemble those experienced during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to begin late Saturday night as the nor’easter moves inland. The storm is forecast to intensify Sunday into Monday, with multiple high-tide cycles likely to worsen flooding in low-lying and bayside communities. High tides are expected around 1 p.m. Sunday, 1 a.m. Monday and again around 1 p.m. Monday.

Emergency response teams including Public Works, Police, Fire and Emergency Services will be fully staffed and on duty 24 hours a day throughout the storm.

A temporary emergency shelter will open at noon Sunday at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway. Those seeking shelter are encouraged to bring essential items such as food, medications, clothing, chargers and personal necessities.

Residents and visitors are urged to secure outdoor furniture and other loose items, charge phones and power banks, prepare flashlights and batteries and move vehicles to higher ground where possible.

Town officials continue to monitor the nor’easter closely and will provide updates as new information becomes available.

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.

Baltimore weather: Nor’easter brings heavy rain and wind 6 Oct 12:30 AM (12 days ago)

The Baltimore area could see a mix of high winds, sunshine and cloudy skies for the rest of the week as temperatures start to fall for the season and a storm system approaches.

A nor’easter is expected to form along the East Coast, bringing the potential for heavy rain and coastal flooding that could last into early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

A nor’easter is a powerful storm along the East Coast, characterized by strong winds, heavy rain or snow, and coastal flooding, typically forming when cold air from the north meets warm ocean waters.

Sunday storms could threaten the Ravens’ home game against the Los Angeles Rams, scheduled for 1 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium. Temperatures will reach a high near 64, with a low around 56 at night. The NWS predicts the area may see some strong gusts of wind, some in excess of 34 mph.

[Get the latest weathercast from FOX45 News]

The workweek begins Monday with more rainy conditions and a high near 63.

Partly sunny skies are set to return to the area again on Tuesday and remain through the rest of the week, with temperatures ranging between the low 70s and low 50s.

20 years after Katrina, Louisiana still struggles with evacuation plans that minimize health risks 3 Oct 8:26 AM (15 days ago)

By Halle Parker, Verite News, KFF Health News

In late August 2020, Ashlee Guidry and her staff kept a wary eye on guidance from local officials as Hurricane Laura passed over Cuba en route to southwestern Louisiana. Guidry was responsible for the safety of dozens of people living at Stonebridge Place, an assisted living and memory care facility in Sulphur.

For days, Laura was just a tropical storm, wet and disorganized. But the Gulf of Mexico was warm — much warmer than average. Local officials worried the temperatures could supercharge the storm as it spun toward the Louisiana coast. So, just as Laura approached the open Gulf, two days before it would make landfall 30 miles south of Stonebridge, Guidry made the call to evacuate.

“I don’t think anybody anticipated it to be as strong as it was,” she said.

Residents were sent to a partner facility about four hours north. Those with the most serious medical conditions were taken by ambulance. Others packed into vans. They avoided the highways, taking backroads for most of the drive. In the time it took to settle into the other facility, Laura rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane. It eventually became one of the strongest hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S. in the last century. It also tied for the fastest rate of intensification, with wind speeds increasing by 65 mph in just 24 hours.

A hotter Gulf and wetter climate create more opportunity for hurricanes to intensify much faster with less notice to call for evacuations, as also seen in more recent storms like Hurricanes Ida and Helene. It’s still hard to predict how much or how fast a storm will strengthen, despite recent advances in forecasting.

Representatives of southern Louisiana communities have pressed the state to overhaul its infrastructure by turning highway shoulders into temporary travel lanes to make it easier for residents to leave as the window for evacuation shortens. But the state’s underfunded Department of Transportation and Development has balked at the multibillion-dollar price tag.

The process of evacuating can be dangerous, especially for people living in medical facilities, older adults, or those dealing with chronic health issues. That’s why planning and timing are critical, said Guidry and other medical professionals. Gridlocks, bottlenecks, and vehicle breakdowns can result in injury, even death. In 2005, nearly 100 people died in the evacuation of Houston ahead of Hurricane Rita, which also rapidly intensified, largely due to a fatal combination of gridlock and extreme heat.

In 2022, the Louisiana State Legislature created a task force to study the state’s contraflow plan after lengthy evacuation times ahead of Hurricane Ida the year before. When the state enacts contraflow, all travel lanes on main evacuation routes lead out of southeastern Louisiana, allowing more people to leave in a short time frame. It was once the state’s go-to strategy for last-minute mass evacuations, though it isn’t always possible to implement. To launch the state’s current contraflow plan, several triggers must be met at least 72 hours before a storm’s landfall.

“If you go back the last three years, the storms have been pretty serious. Quickly intensifying, shifting direction, and lasting longer,” said Louisiana Rep. Matt Willard (D-New Orleans), who authored the resolution. “So we really do need to take our contraflow processes and evacuation processes seriously and start looking at what they look like over the next decade.”

As hurricanes intensify faster, the state’s existing contraflow plan has grown less feasible. Contraflow is also labor-intensive and can make it harder to stage resources to respond in the aftermath of a storm, so state officials have moved away from the evacuation strategy.

The task force delivered several recommendations, from shortening the time needed to initiate contraflow to repairing evacuation routes closed due to safety. The task force also introduced a strategy used in Texas and Florida: widening existing highways so the shoulders can be used as additional travel lanes to relieve congestion, known as “evaculanes” or “emergency shoulder use.”

The state Department of Transportation and Development declined to pursue any of the recommendations. Instead, state agency spokesperson Rodney Mallett said, officials have focused on encouraging residents not to rely on strategies like contraflow, which is meant to be used rarely as a last resort.

Contraflow requires immense coordination among state and local agencies as well as Mississippi officials. The state has implemented contraflow twice: to evacuate 1.2 million residents ahead of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and then for a mass evacuation of 2 million residents ahead of Hurricane Gustav in 2008. It was also partially implemented for evacuations ahead of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Although contraflow requires less lead time in other states, Louisiana officials say a shorter time frame isn’t possible.

The current 72-hour plan includes 22 hours for transportation staff to prepare the roads and change thousands of signals to switch directions. For Katrina, the state completed preparations for contraflow within six hours, allowing officials to open all lanes for 25 hours before the weather deteriorated.

An Alternative Evacuation Strategy

Louisiana isn’t the only state hesitant to rely on contraflow. Florida, the only state hit by more hurricanes than Louisiana and Texas, has never implemented its contraflow plan. Instead, in 2016, it implemented its plan for emergency shoulder use.

“We were looking for something that was more efficient for us to do that took less resources,” such as law enforcement staff, said Rudy Powell, the Florida Department of Transportation’s chief engineer of operations.

Contraflow is also less safe to operate at night, while emergency shoulders can run continuously without blocking out-of-state resources from entering areas ahead of the storm, such as groceries and other supplies. Depending on which highways need more capacity, Powell said, the emergency use of shoulders takes two to four hours to implement.

“This is our go-to strategy for hurricane evacuation traffic,” Powell said. “The times we implemented it, it’s made a big difference in volume and speed. The whole idea is to keep traffic flowing.”

But the Louisiana transportation department said the strategy would be too expensive.

Unlike Florida, Louisiana hasn’t historically constructed shoulders wide enough to be safely used as temporary travel lanes. The standard for highway and bridge construction in Florida has long required the state to build shoulders at least 10 feet wide. In Louisiana, shoulders must be at least 8 feet wide to accommodate traffic. They also have to be structurally secure. Louisiana roads and bridges are narrower, such as the shoulders on the Interstate 10 bridge over the Bonnet Carré Spillway.

In 2024, the transportation department estimated that reconstructing the shoulders along I-10, I-59, and I-55 and their bridges would cost at least $1 billion, not including other structures that would need to be rebuilt to accommodate the new shoulder width. Most of that money would go toward widening the bridges, which would cost up to $28 million per mile.

Shawn Wilson led the Department of Transportation under Gov. John Bel Edwards from 2016 until Wilson resigned in early 2023 for an unsuccessful run for governor. He said the agency had begun taking steps toward rehabilitating the state’s inconsistent shoulder construction before he left, even incorporating wider shoulders on new bridges along I-12.

But any road improvements, Wilson said, are weighed against the cheaper cost to simply maintain state highways as they are. Louisiana ranks among the lowest in transportation spending, and the state’s spending on highways has fallen since 2007. A decades-old fuel tax is the only consistent source of revenue, but it hasn’t been enough even to maintain the state’s aging infrastructure. And the lack of funding has led to a $19 billion backlog in road projects, said Steven Procopio, president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. In 2023, the state and federal fuel tax combined raised $600 million in revenue for the agency. Special capital projects typically rely on state surplus dollars, Procopio said.

He noted the state’s 20-cent-per-gallon fuel tax has been the same since 1990 and much of the revenue goes toward paying off old debt, not new projects.

“Inflation is just eating up the spending power of these dollars,” he said.

When To Leave

Debra Campbell said it took her 14 hours to make the 200-mile drive to Lake Charles when she evacuated New Orleans the day before Hurricane Katrina made landfall. It was the same day then-Mayor Ray Nagin finally called for a mandatory evacuation of the city. (Nagin later admitted he could have issued the order earlier.)

“It was hectic,” Campbell said. “It took so many hours for our people to get to safety. But we got out.”

Campbell made it through the slow-moving traffic unscathed, but she said others were plagued with stressors like running out of gas or threats of violence from other frustrated motorists.

While more than 1 million people made it out of southeastern Louisiana, tens of thousands remained behind. Many couldn’t leave. Some didn’t have a car, while others couldn’t afford the gas needed to evacuate or a multiday hotel stay while waiting to return.

Campbell chaired the state’s Contraflow Task Force and leads A Community Voice -Louisiana, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of low- to moderate-income families in the state. For years, Campbell has advocated for state and local officials to find more ways to get people out of New Orleans and the surrounding parishes, especially people who can’t afford the cost of evacuation.

“The people don’t have the resources to evacuate as it is, so they’re not going to make a move until the very last minute,” she said.

One University of Florida study found that insecure access to transportation can play a key role when making evacuation decisions, including whether residents can receive medical services. Low-income, car-less, and senior residents face an increased health risk throughout a hurricane as a result.

In lieu of infrastructure changes, state transportation officials want residents to leave as early as possible. People who are especially vulnerable to health issues while on the road should prepare their medications, monitor their blood pressure, stay hydrated, and ensure they’re able to stay cool while traveling.

The stress of traveling can exacerbate health conditions, on top of the anxiety that weighs many Louisianians down during hurricane season, said DePaul Community Health Centers pharmacy director Raymond Strong. “For all diseases, whether it’s asthma, hypertension, cancer, or HIV, stress makes it worse,” he said. Planning ahead, he said, can help manage the amount of stress patients feel.

Campbell and others advocating for the state to start planning for more rapidly intensifying storms agree that leaving early is important for safety. But Campbell isn’t convinced it’s realistic, especially for working-class residents.

“People’s finances don’t always allow them to leave early. They have to be pushed to move,” she said, adding that without a mandatory evacuation order, businesses stay open and some people try to stay and work as long as possible. “That’s why we need [the state] to open up all the lanes.”

Although the state isn’t looking to make big changes to its evacuation plans, Campbell said, there has been progress with New Orleans officials. Public buses provided to evacuate residents from the city to shelters could soon be more easily accessible. The city is also considering another task force recommendation: installing a siren system to help alert residents during tornadoes and other hazards.

Campbell said she hopes city and state officials continue to think of more ways to help people leave before major hurricanes hit.

“We have to offer them as much as we can,” she said. “The task force needed to meet with the people who could make a difference, but now we need to see it implemented.”

This article was produced in collaboration with Verite News.

©2025 Kaiser Health News. Visit khn.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ©2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ocean City outlines forecast, storm impact for Country Calling 1 Oct 11:24 AM (17 days ago)

The double hurricanes off the East Coast, Humberto and Imelda, have battered North Carolina’s Outer Banks, collapsing beachfront homes and tearing at the shoreline this week. Up the coast in Ocean City, however, officials say it will be business as usual for the rest of this week.

“At this point, we do not expect any serious impacts,” City Manager Terry McGean said Wednesday. “Current forecast is high tide this afternoon will be a couple of feet above normal, but that appears to be the worst of it. We may need to close some downtown streets for a few hours, which is nothing out of the ordinary.”

Ocean City’s beachfront will remain open.

“We never close the beach, we just place restrictions on entering the water,” McGean said. “Lifeguards are no longer on duty except on quads, so we will tell folks to stay out of the water regardless.”

The storms will churn up surf for the next two days, he added, but are not expected to cause lasting damage. Both are projected to head northeast, pushing farther away from the U.S. coast.

“Some rough surf the next two days, but expect a beautiful weekend for Country Calling,” McGean said, referencing the country music festival set to draw thousands to the resort. County Calling is set to run from Friday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 5. Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, and Luke Bryan are headlining the three-day event.

According to the National Weather Service, festivalgoers can expect sunny skies this weekend, with highs in the low 70s and lows in the 60s.

Preparing for a storm

Overall, McGean said the resort is as well prepared for a major storm as can reasonably be expected.

Since the 1970s, he said, the town has enforced a strict building code with high wind load requirements and minimum building elevations and construction standards in excess of those required by FEMA.

Additionally, Emergency Services holds regular training exercises, and there are detailed evacuation and recovery plans. McGean said Ocean City has debris removal and restoration contracts with third-party construction companies already in place to assist with recovery, critical facilities, including water and wastewater treatment plants, all have backup generators, and the beach and dune system, along with the Boardwalk seawall, are designed to protect against damage from a 100-year storm.

While coastal towns across the East Coast continue to weigh the risks of stronger storms and rising seas, Ocean City officials are treating this week’s system as little more than a temporary nuisance – one they expect to quickly give way to clear skies and crowds for the weekend.

Have a news tip? Contact Eastern Shore bureau chief Josh Davis at jdavis@baltsun.com.

5 Outer Banks houses collapse into the ocean in an hour 30 Sep 12:05 PM (18 days ago)

Five Outer Banks beach houses collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean within 45 minutes Tuesday afternoon, marking the most destructive day for Hatteras Island since houses began crumbling into the sea five years ago.

The houses in Buxton fell under large swells and rough surf from hurricanes Imelda and Humberto beginning about 2 p.m., with the last collapsing about 2:45 p.m., the National Park Service said in a release. More collapses are possible, officials said.

“Very hazardous conditions are expected to continue over the next 24 hours and visitors should stay away from closed areas,” the release said.

Visitors are also urged to use caution “for miles to the south of the sites, due to the presence of potentially hazardous debris.”

The Outer Banks was under a wind, high surf and coastal flood advisories Tuesday as Humberto and Imelda pass offshore.

The collapsed houses included 46001, 46002 and 46007 Cottage Ave., and 46209 and 46211 Tower Circle Road. No one was injured.

The latest disasters come two weeks after another Buxton home fell into the ocean during a nor’easter, bringing the tally of fallen homes on Hatteras Island to 17 since 2020. Until earlier this month, all of the houses were on the northern end of the island in Rodanthe.

Local, state and federal officials have long struggled with erosion on Hatteras Island, a constantly shifting sandbar that acts to protect the mainland from the impact of coastal storms.

But over the past decade, erosion has accelerated with sections of Rodanthe oceanfront losing 12 to 20 feet of beachfront each year, Dare County officials have said.

Despite years of meetings, studies and unfunded proposals, the National Park Service and Dare County have no solid long-term strategy for how to stop the ocean from reclaiming sections of the island.

Measures proposed by a 2022 work group of federal, state and local officials include grants to help property owners move houses away from the ocean and reforming insurance thresholds, which currently don’t pay out until a house collapses. The county is also working with state lawmakers on funding sources for possible beach nourishment projects.

The N.C. Department of Transportation closed N.C. 12 on the northern end of Ocracoke Island on Tuesday afternoon due to ocean overwash flooding. The Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry is also suspended.

Annapolis council OKs fees up to $2K if owners don’t clear snowy sidewalks 30 Sep 6:42 AM (18 days ago)

This winter, Annapolis property owners will pay more in fees if snow and ice are not cleared from city sidewalks bordering their property.

The Annapolis City Council unanimously passed legislation Monday that would add a fee if the city has to clear the city sidewalk around a property, which its sponsors say will act as a deterrent and keep residents safe during winter weather events.

The fee is based on the length of the sidewalk bordering the property, ranging from a $200 fee for sidewalks 30 feet long or less to a $2,000 fee for sidewalk sections exceeding 250 feet long. Ward 1 Alderman Harry Huntley and Ward 7 Alderman Robert Savidge, who sponsored the legislation, told the Capital Gazette the added fees are intended to cover the cost of city snow removal as a last resort.

“We’re going to have fewer snowy sidewalks, and our residents, especially our seniors and other people with mobility issues, are going to be able to get around town,” Huntley said. “The people who said to me last year, ‘When it snows, I don’t even leave the house,’ those people are going to be able to get out and pick up some milk because of this really thoughtful legislation.”

These fees would be an addition to the existing $100 fine for property owners who do not clear the sidewalk near their properties. Annapolis property owners are required by the city to clear the entire width of city sidewalks, or a 4-foot-wide path for wider sidewalks directly next to their properties, within three hours of the snow or sleet ceasing to fall. If the snow stops between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m., city law allows property owners until 11 a.m. to clear the snow, sleet and ice.

Laurie Sullivan, an Annapolis resident, spoke out against the sidewalk clearing fee during the meeting Monday, arguing that the fees are “unfair and punitive” to property owners. Sullivan argued that fees should be focused on out-of-town landlords and investors.

Huntley has argued that the fees are a last-resort option to clear trafficked areas, with property owners clearing their own sidewalks, hiring a contractor, or asking a friend to help clear the sidewalk.

More than 9 inches of snow fell on Annapolis on one night in January of this year, which Huntley said led him to propose tougher legislation around sidewalk snow clearing. Following the snowfall, the city remained cold for multiple days, leaving some city sidewalks inaccessible for many residents.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com.