O’Malley Declares State of Emergency Due to Heavy Rainfall

Gov. Martin O’Malley has declared a State of Emergency due to heavy rainfall across Maryland.

“I have ordered state emergency personnel and resources to be available statewide as we safeguard Maryland against the effects of this heavy rain," O’Malley said in a statement. “I ask Marylanders to monitor their local news outlets in the coming days for further information.”

The State of Emergency activates the Maryland National Guard into service and allows local jurisdictions to access additional state resources when needed.

Meanwhile, Baltimore County officials have reported scattered issues caused by several inches of rain accumulation.

"In the Towson area we have Circle Road, Cromwell Bridge and Ruxton Road with closures ... and then there's Glen Arm and Notch Cliff Road to the north,” said David Fidler, spokesman for the county Department of Public Works. “Public Works is also seeing some wires down and a few fallen trees reported in the southwest County. Highways crews will work this evening until the storm stops and things have been put right." 

There are minor flooding issues in “isolated areas,” according to Tim Burgess, Chief of the county Bureau of Highways.

He said most of these areas are the same ones that tend to flood when there are heavy downpours. The flooding is mostly limited to "low-lying areas. Most drivers in an area tend to know where these places are."

Showers will continue into tonight with the chance of a thunderstorm before midnight, according to the National Weather Service. Total rainfall accumulation is forecasted between three quarters and one inch.  

Patch Associate Regional Editor Bryan P. Sears contributed to this report.