By: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
All Photos By: Billy McNeel, Office of Emergency Management
MEDIA CONTACT: Rhonda D. Jackson,
Division Manager Public Information & Inter-Governmental Relations
Prince George’s County Office of Homeland Security/Office of Emergency Management
301-780-8180
The combined
career, civilian and volunteer resources of the Prince George’s County
Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department were kept busy Friday evening with
what officials from the National Weather Service (NWS) called a “micro-burst.”
The NWS
had issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning prior to the powerful storm cell
moving through the Bladensburg community and surrounding area around 8:00
pm. A microburst is a very
localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds
at the surface. A microburst often has
high winds that can knock over fully-grown trees and cause damage to
structures. They usually last for a duration of a couple of seconds to several
minutes with winds exceeding well over 100 mph.
Firefighters
responded to over 235 calls in about 4 hours during and after the storm (a normal 24-hour call volume average is 365 calls). Personnel searched 28 multi-family apartment
buildings to ensure everyone was evacuated and to inspect damage. At one point during the storm the Fire/EMS
Department Medical Ambulance Bus and additional EMS resources were alerted to
stand-by at the Prince George’s Hospital Center. The hospital suffered a power outage and was
considering relocating some patients, however, no action was needed and the
staff at the hospital handled the situation.
On Friday
evening, Assistant Fire Chief Ronald A. Bridges reported that 15 multi-family
dwellings and one single-family dwelling sustained roof and/or structural
damage near 54th Street and Newton Street. The Roger Heights Elementary
School was opened as an evacuation center to house displaced residents,
estimated at 300 to 600 people. It is not known how many residents used the
shelter. There were two minor
injuries reported (civilian) and both of those individuals were
transported to local hospitals in good condition.
The
Prince George’s County Office of Homeland Security and the Office of Emergency
Management opened the Emergency Operations Center and immediately started to assist
residents affected by the storm. A
temporary, air-conditioned, shelter is remains open at the Roger Heights
Elementary School, 4301 58th Avenue.
A phone line has been established for residents requiring
assistance. Residents are encouraged to
call 301-583-2230 for information. Some
of the building sustained significant damage and residents will incur long-term
displacement. The Office of Emergency
Management will be working with apartment complex management and the American
Red Cross for relief and shelter.
On
Saturday morning, firefighters returned to the area and continued their search
for additional damage under the glow of sunlight. PEPCO reported that there were still about
10,000 homes without power, mostly in the Hyattsville and Bladensburg areas.
The
Office of Homeland Security recently posted a Press Release on Saturday
morning.
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
June 23, 2012
For Information Contact:
Rhonda
D. Jackson, Division Manager Public Information & Inter-Governmental
Relations
Prince
George’s County Office of Homeland Security/Office of Emergency Management
301-780-8180
Bladensburg Microburst Damages Homes and Displaces Residents
Temporary shelter moving to Bladensburg High
School beginning at 2pm, Emergency Operation Center Hotline Activated at
301-583-2230
Bladensburg,
MD – At approximately
8:07 p.m. on Friday, June 22, Prince George’s County Emergency responders
began deployment to Bladensburg, MD after a confirmed microburst spread
through the community. This microburst resulted in severe damage to 15
multi-family dwellings, 1 single family dwelling, and structural damage on
Newton Street between 52nd and 55th Avenues in
Bladensburg. There were only a couple of minor injuries according to the
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS.
Residents
residing in the affected areas have been vacated. Department of Environmental
Resources (DER) and Fire/Emergency Medical Services (Fire/EMS) have inspectors
on the scene. These facilities will remain condemned until an official
assessment is determined. Officials from the American Red Cross and the
Department of Social Services are on the scene and are assisting with displaced
families. Since last night, a temporary shelter was established at Rodgers
Heights Elementary in Bladensburg.
Beginning at
2pm today, sheltered residents will be moved to Bladensburg High School, 4200
57th Avenue. Any impacted resident needing assistance, information or shelter,
should call the Prince George’s County Emergency Operation Center at 301-583-2230.
A
microburst is a small, very intense downdraft that descends to the ground
resulting in a strong wind divergence. Microbursts are capable of
producing winds of more than 100 mph causing significant damage. The life span
of a microburst is around 5-15 minutes.
Comments
Post a Comment