City of Salisbury Mayor Jake Day assesses flooding at Canal Woods

LIVE on #Periscope: City of Salisbury Mayor Jake Day assesses flooding at Canal Woods https://t.co/5gULm7aJ0U

— Salisbury Police (@SalisburyPD) September 29, 2016

Mayor Jake Day convened a briefing with City department heads this morning at 9:00 a.m. to assess current conditions, and plan for the next 48 hours. The situation as it stands now:

•Crews were out overnight responding to reports of flooding at multiple locations around the City. SPD responded to multiple calls of standing water on City streets, and SFD responded to 2 fires inside City limits, and one assist in Allen, MD.

•Per standard protocol, Public Works crews are currently out assessing the integrity of dams around town, and ensuring that storm basins are clear of debris to ensure proper drainage. Citizens who notice a clogged or obstructed storm drain are encouraged to notify Public Works at 410-548-3170, or via the Salisbury app on iPhone and Android.

•The Red Cross has established an emergency shelter location at the Wicomico High School auditorium. For more information, contact the Red Cross at 410-749-5331.

•Salisbury’s Business Development Specialist has begun outreach to Downtown businesses which are located in flood-prone areas. At the current time, none have reported significant damage or issues.

•There have been two small areas of road washout – one on N. Park Drive in the area of Village in the Park, the second on Burton St. between Cypress and Lake Streets. A small sinkhole has been reported at the intersection of E. William St. and Business Rte. 13. The State Highway Administration is on the scene.

•Mayor Day has reached out to Wicomico County Schools Superintendent Donna Hanlin who advises that schools will close 2 hours early today.

The National Weather Service has advised that the area will remain under a Flash Flood Watch through the evening hours. High tide this afternoon will coincide with the arrival of another band of heavy rain which is expected to bring 1 to 2 inches of precipitation within the span of an hour. Conditions during and after this period of rainfall may be hazardous. Citizens are urged to exercise caution, and to slow down and allow extra room for braking. Always avoid areas of standing water, rushing water, or areas where the road bed has been compromised in any way. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. To report non-emergency issues, call Public Works at 410-548-3170, or the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165.

The City will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as warranted. For updates on the storm situation, follow @CityofSBY, @SalisburyPD, and @SalisburyFD on Twitter, “City of Salisbury, Maryland” of Facebook, and SalisburyPD on Periscope.