Westminster, MD, Thursday, August 10, 2023 – More than 48 hours after the severe storm swept through Carroll County, crews from the county, state, municipalities as well as BGE teams continue to work round the clock to open roadways, restore power and clean up impacted areas. The storm caused a record-breaking number of road closures which continue to be served. As clean-up continues, the County asks property owners to exercise patience and take a moment to consider the number of hours and work already completed by workers.  Clean-up operations could take a month to complete.

County crews have responded to a record-breaking and historic number of road closures. At the peak, 122 county roads or multiple sections of roads were closed; the majority due to trees down, trees on powerlines, or powerlines down;  as of 12:00 noon today, this number is reduced to three (3). The remaining three roads require substantial BGE construction and personnel are responding as quickly as possible. Due to the enormity of the situation, crews have first focused on a cut and clear strategy, which is to cut and clear trees and debris from roadways, so all roads can be open as soon as possible. The County thanks all residents who have assisted with the removal of trees and debris that resulted in roads being opened earlier than without this assistance.

Now that almost all roads are open, the crews will turn to the second phase, which is the clean-up operation.  This stage is the consistent and methodical clearing of the debris previously removed from the roadway.  County crews will clear trees and debris previously in the roads and the county rights-of-way.  Property owners are responsible for clearing the remainder of the debris.

Department of Public Works (DPW) staff have a couple of options to help residents with debris.

1. To assist with yard waste removal, Carroll County residents may take yard debris only to the Resource Recovery Park, Northern Landfill on Sunday 8/13.

Saturday 8/12 normal landfill hours 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Added:  Sunday 8/13 hours are 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for residential yard debris only (no contractors or landscapers)

The landfill is located at 1400 Baltimore Blvd, Westminster (MD Route 140), two miles east of MD Route 97.

2. WeCare Denali will now be open for residential yard waste drop-off at their operation on Kabik Court for Carroll County residents (with identification) on Saturday 8/13 from 6:45am – 11:30pm.  They will now close on Saturday 8/26/2023.

"I know everyone wants to put this storm behind them and is tired of the inconvenience, however, recovery is going to take some time and I hope everyone will be patient with us,” said Board of County Commissioner President Ed Rothstein. “The destruction here was historic, and crews are working hard to clear the areas. Property owners may feel that their neighborhood is not being addressed, but that is not the case. Crews continue to work in shifts, making sure that we give everyone appropriate rest so we can complete the job safely.

As crews continue efforts to manage storm cleanup, residents should remain cautious on roadways and other areas. Be aware and alert around road and utility crews as well as first responders. Please keep safety in mind for all your activities and check on friends, family members and neighbors.

Please contact 9-1-1 for emergencies. Residents wishing to report road-related non-emergencies should use the county’s See Click Report site and mobile app.