Flag detail commander Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar, of the Defense Information School's Air Force Student Detachment, departs the flagpole on McGlachlin Parade Field after completing Retreat. The flagstaff detail braved the rain and strong winds...
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (Nov. 1, 2012) -- Like much of Maryland, Fort Meade was spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy as the superstorm pounded the Northeast.
By the time the rains and winds tapered off on Tuesday, the installation was left with minor damage and a bridge closure.
"The only significant events overnight were a few trees down and limited power outages that have since been repaired," Lt. Col. J. Darrell Sides, Fort Meade provost marshal and director of the Directorate of Emergency Services, said Tuesday.
Wednesday morning, residents in the 2900 and 3000 blocks of Potomac Place and Patriot Ridge were scheduled to lose power temporarily while crews removed some debris off of power lines.
At approximately 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, the DES, National Security Agency Police and state troopers made a joint decision on site to close Route 198 directly on post boundaries where the creek by the Wastewater Treatment Plant flows under a double bridge on 198, according to the DES.
"Racing water hit the side of one of the bridges with force, and slow-moving water covered the far bridge," Sides said. "The state assumed control of the bridge closure, and the State Highway Administration placed barriers on both sides."
There also was minor wind damage to signs and fences across the post that do not pose a threat to the community, said Sides.
"Other than the bridge, all operations are normal from the DES perspective," Sides said.
In anticipation of the storm, the garrison collaborated with community leaders on and off post.
"Great teamwork and community response from our garrison staff, partners, and neighbors inside and outside the fence line," Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein posted on Fort Meade's Facebook page.
As the storm intensified, many government offices and businesses and all state school systems closed. Garrison leaders closed the post both Monday and Tuesday, requiring only emergency/essential personnel to report for work. Normal operations resumed Wednesday.
"The area's preparedness operations took steps to mitigate the storm's impact on our local communities with a primary focus on the safety of residents and the area's workforce," Rothstein said.
According to the Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., 85,710 utility customers were without power as of Wednesday morning including 22,844 in Anne Arundel County, while 264,056 customers had their power restored, including 80,782 in the county.
"Still, that was fewer than officials expected and under the number of outages caused by Hurricane Irene last year," according to The Baltimore Sun.
Throughout the storm, Rothstein posted messages on Facebook, praising the community for its efforts in advance of the storm to minimize its impact:
"Everyone is working together and taking the appropriate precautions. ... Our partner organizations, garrison staff and most of all, community, have done great in preparation. Key to the continued success will be through communications and teamwork."
Rothstein thanked residents Tuesday for staying off the roads during and immediately after the storm:
"I appreciate minimizing the traffic on our roads that allow us to focus our care on the community with minimal delays. ... Thanks again for all that you do in being a part of Team Meade."
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