MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release:
May 5, 2014
For more information, contact:
Scott L. Peterson
Press Secretary/Deputy Communications Manager
PH: 240-619-9400
Prince George’s County Announces Mandatory Evacuation of 28 Residential Properties Near Fort Washington Due to Slope Failure
Fort Washington, MD - Monday, May 5, the Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) announced the Mandatory Evacuation of residents from a section of 28 homes in the Piscataway Hills community near Fort Washington, MD due to a slope failure on Piscataway Drive. A slope failure occurred over the weekend, collapsing a portion of Piscataway Drive, resulting in water main and sewer failure. Further roadway failure is occurring.
The Prince George’s County Government, including the Prince George’s Fire/EMS Department (PGFD), Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE), Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T), Prince George’s Police Department (PGPD) Prince George's County Department of Family Services (DFS) and the Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources (DER), is working with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to mitigate problems caused by this slope failure. Due to limited access to water/sewer services and transportation by public safety responders, impacted residents on Piscataway Drive, a wooded dead-end road, are being evacuated.
Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management is establishing a temporary reception center for affected residents. County officials are working directly with the impacted residents of this community to ensure their safety, as well as communicating regular status updates of the situation in a timely manner. The County is taking this action pursuant to the Prince George’s County Code Section 4-120, which states:
Sec. 4-120. Administration; Section 117, Emergency Measures.
(a) Section 117.1 is added to read as follows: "Imminent Danger." When, in the opinion of the Code Official, there is imminent danger of failure or collapse of a building or structure or any part thereof which endangers life or when any structure or part of a structure has fallen and life is endangered by the occupation of the building or structure, the Code Official is hereby authorized and empowered to order and require the occupants to vacate the same forthwith. The Code Official shall cause to be posted at each entrance to such structure, a notice reading as follows: 'This structure is unsafe and its occupancy has been prohibited by the Code Official.' It shall be unlawful for any person to enter such structure except for the purpose of making the required repairs or of demolishing the same.
See images of events on Piscataway Drive in Fort Washington by clicking here.
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