NewsRelease

Forimmediaterelease
October28,2012 12:56a.m.

TownofOceanCity,Maryland

Mediacontact:JessicaWaters
CommunicationsManager

WhatisPhaseIIofEmergencyEvacuationPlan?TownofOceanCitywantsyoutohavethefacts! Amandatoryevacuationofallresidentsinthedowntownarea(southof17thStreet)hasbeenissued andiseffectiveimmediately.Residentsintheseareasmustevacuatebefore8p.m.today,October28. Avoluntaryevacuationorderisinplaceforresidentsandoccupantsofknownlowlyingareas. AlocalStateofEmergencyhasbeendeclaredbyMayorRickMeehan,issuinganordertoclosethe beachtoallpersonsuntilfurthernotices. Theinletlotwillbeclosedbeginningat5p.m.andwillnotreopenforthedurationofthestorm, whichisexpectedtolasttwotothreedays. TheWorcesterCountyCommissionershavedeclaredalocalstateofemergencyandhaveordered waterfrontpropertyownerstoevacuateduetoimminentthreatsfromHurricaneSandy.This includesallpropertiesintheWestOceanCityarea,thecommunitiesofCapeIsleofWight,Mystic Harbour,SnugHarbor,TheLandingsandAssateaguePoint.AlsoincludedinthisareSouthPoint, anythingeastoftheparkwayinOceanPinesandallotherwaterfrontpropertiesthroughout WorcesterCountyduetoanticipatedflooding. Countyshelterswillopenat1:00p.m.today,October28,2012.ThesesheltersincludeStephen DecaturHighSchool,SnowHillHighSchoolandPocomokeHighSchool,andthepetfriendlyshelters StephenDecaturMiddleSchool,AnimalControlinSnowHillandPocomokeHighSchool.Petowners mustprovidetheirowncarriersandfood. PeoplewithspecialneedsrequiringshelterorassistanceshouldcontacttheWorcesterCounty HealthDepartmentat4106321100andthenpress8. TheTownofOceanCitywillutilizethemunicipaltransportationsystemforrelocationofpeoplewith specialneedsandwillprovideapickuplocationattheConventionCentertorelocatepeopletothe designatedsheltersbeginningat1p.m.

Duringthestorm,theTownofOceanCitywillbepostingstormrelatedinformationonvariouswebsites, socialmediaoutlets,throughtheGovDeliverysystemandthetelevisionaccesschannel.Citizensareaskedto tuneintoOceanCitysGovernmentAccessChannel(4&15)forfurtherdetailedinformationoradvisories.To subscribetoGovDelivery,visittheCityWideAlertstabontheTownofOceanCityswebsiteat http://oceancitymd.gov.

Thenextscheduledupdateisexpectedatapproximately6p.m.todayOctober28. ###

Hurricane Sandy 6