Weather conditions have improved significantly in the past few hours with the departure of Hurricane Sandy to the north. Better conditions have allowed the Frederick County Highway Department to move faster in clearing local roads. Supervisor Bill Routzahn, "The rain has eased off quite a bit this morning the county had over 140 roads closed." Withn the easing of the storm, workers can move quicker in clearing the highways.

According to Routzhan, county trucks had to be pulled off the road last night around 11pm for the safety of the highway workers after one truck was damaged by a falling tree and others were blocked by branches.

Officials say numerous roads are still closed in Frederick county due to a combination of flooding and downed power lines. Highways Operations Supervisor Bill Routzahn says it may over a week until the county is back to full functioning after the storm. There will be a delay removing trees with power lines tangled in them. Potomac Edison has to come and indicate there is no power flowing through the wires before we can touch them." Some roads might not be opened until the end of the week since crews must wait for power lines to be cut.

With the bad weather that has hit the area due to the passing of Hurricane Sandy, the County Roads Department has been stretched thin trying to keep roads open. Supervisor Routzhan asvises that there are some small things all citizens can do to try to keep roads open. "If you live near a drainage ditch that is blocked with leaves, you can help the county by using a rake or fork to clean out leaves and allow water to flow away from the road." It will take the roads department a long time to clear out every culvert.

The goal is to have all roads opened for travel by the end of the week with final cleanup of branches and leaves to be completed within the next few weeks.