Road Crews Preparing for Rain and Wind From Hurricane Florence

Road crews are cleaning and clearing storm drains and ditches.


Frederick, Md. (DG) – Hurricane Florence has her sights set on the East Coast, and the Maryland Department of Transportation is preparing for the possibility of significant rainfall and high winds in the state.

Road crews are cleaning and clearing storm drains and ditches. State Highway Administration spokesman Charlie Gischlar said the region has been hit with severe storms this past spring and summer.

“These storms have been dumping 2-3 inches of rain in a couple of hours, so each storm brings like a log and it gets caught underneath the bridges,” Gischlar said. “We have to make sure we clean that out so that it doesn’t act like a dam.”

Gischlar is urging motorists to be cautious and to never drive through a flooded roadway.

“Two feet of water can float a bus, so if you think you are in a big pick up truck going through that area, you are putting yourself and possible rescuers that will have to come and get you in jeopardy,” Gischlar said.

Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall Thursday along the North Carolina Coast as a Category 4 storm.

-Dianah Gibson