Ocean City Updates Hurricane Irene Activity

Ocean City continues to monitor Hurricane Irene. Evacuation of the town continues and everyone is asked to be out of town by 5 p.m. today.

At 5 p.m. today public transportation ends.

The town’s wastewater treatment plant will be taken off line at 6 p.m. Saturday. Sewer service will be unavailable at that time. The town anticipates the system will be back in service late Sunday evening depending on impacts from the storm.

Emergency management officials advise residents to remove their vehicles from streets in the downtown area and other areas prone to flooding, and move them to higher ground. Route 90 eastbound is now closed to motorists. The Route 50 drawbridge openings end at 5 p.m.

All incoming traffic to Ocean City, Maryland, will be limited to emergency personnel. No other vehicles will be permitted entry to the island, except by approved authority (Mayor, City Manager and Emergency Services Director).

Ocean City Municipal Transportation System is providing transportation for special needs individuals. For special needs transportation, please call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606. International student workforce evacuation has been completed, with 2,112 students safely evacuated.

The Ocean City Government Cable Access Channel 4, the Ocean City website www.ocmdemergency.com, recorded emergency management line, 410-723-6666 and Ocean City advisory radio station 1670 AM will remain operational for further advisories.

Ocean City is expected to receive a significant impact from Hurricane Irene.

Easterly gale force winds should start affecting the area on Saturday, August 27 at 5 p.m. with hurricane-force winds arriving around 4 a.m. and lasting for a period of eight hours. The highest wind speeds from Hurricane Irene should occur near 9 a.m. when 

top sustained winds, from the north, could reach 90 mph with gusts near 120 mph. Winds should decrease below hurricane force shortly thereafter.

Sustained winds will fall below gale force after 3 p.m. and generally be from the north during this period of decreasing winds. Expect gusts above gale force level for several more hours thereafter.

The total rainfall for the Ocean City area over the next three days is forecast to be 9.5 inches. This can vary significantly as tropical storm and hurricane rainfall is very difficult to predict.

Storm surge is expected to be six-feet above normal high tide cycles resulting in significant flooding in low-lying areas.