Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police Department officer killed in motorcycle accident

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police Department officer killed in motorcycle accident

UPDATE: @CarrollEagle Westminster man who was a Metro officer, died today after Monday night motorcycle accident http://bit.ly/147SGs

Major Phil Kasten
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
100 North Court Street
Westminster, MD 2157
410-386-2759

ADDITIONAL CONTACT:

Director Lisa Farbstein
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police Department
600 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-962-1051

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

“Westminster motorcyclist killed after being struck by pick-up truck”

Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, August 11, 2009 ---- At approximately 9:45 pm last evening Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to reports of a vehicle collision on Route 97 at Bartholow Road. Upon reaching the scene, deputies discovered a 2005 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle laying on the roadway against the guardrail on the southbound shoulder of Route 97, its driver was being treated by paramedics from the Winfield Volunteer Fire Company.

Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed the motorcycle had been traveling North on Route 97 when it was struck by a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado Pick-up Truck, which failed to yield the right-of-way as it crossed Route 97 Westbound on Bartholow Road.

The motorcycle’s operator, Dennis Michael Henley Jr. aged 32 of Westminster was transported by helicopter to York County Hospital and died early this morning as a result of his injuries.

The truck’s operator, George Chochos aged 49 of Westminster was released from the scene uninjured.

Alcohol is not considered a factor in this collision.

Henley, who is a Police Officer with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, was returning home after attending a training class at the Maryland Police & Correctional Training Commission Facility in Sykesville. Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigators are conducting a detailed investigation and reconstruction of the accident, which could take several weeks. Charges are pending the outcome of that investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident, or that may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact Corporal Mike Zepp of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office at 410-386-2900, or mzepp@ccg.carr.org. The Sheriff’s Office Investigation continues…

# # #

20090811 DC Metro Transit Auth officer killed in motorcycle accident

@kevindayhoff RT @CarrollEagle Westminster man who was a Metro officer, died today after Monday night motorcycle accident http://bit.ly/147SGs

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.westgov.net/ Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Possible tornado touches down in southern Carroll County, 2 hurt, 2700 homes without power.

Possible tornado touches down in southern Carroll County, 2 hurt, 2700 homes without power.
http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/07/possible-tornado-touches-down-in.html
By Kevin Dayhoff July 27, 2009 1:30 AM

Sykesville - Several violent thunderstorms ripped through southern Carroll County Sunday evening. The storm downed trees and power lines, damaged cars and 37 homes; and kept the Sykesville Freedom District Fire Company busy past midnight.

The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company reported 2700 homes without power as the evening wore-on.

The first call for help was received by the Sykesville fire department at 5:52 pm. Before the evening was over, the department had responded to over 39 – 911 calls including one call in which two persons had to be extricated from a vehicle struck by a fallen tree, according to Sykesville fire department chief Ed Ruch, Sr.

It was moments earlier, at 5:40 pm that, according to “The Emergency Email and Wireless Network”: “the National Weather Service in Sterling Va issued a severe thunderstorm warning for N. Howard County in central Md. So. central Carroll County in No. central Md. and southwestern Baltimore County in N. Md. until 645 Pm EDT.

“At 538 Pm EDT. Natl Weather Svc Doppler Radar Indicated A Severe Thunderstorm. This Storm Was Located 9 Miles West Of Sykesville.& Moving East At 25 Mph.

“Locations Impacted Include: Sykesville, Eldersburg, Gamber, Oakland, Ellicott City, Randallstown, Owings Mills, Milford Mill, Reisterstown, and Lochearn. Hail To The Size Of Pennies Can Be Expected In The Warned Area.”

An article by Clay Myers on the Gamber and Community Fire Company website reports “One very large old tree at the corner of Sunset and Liberty Lake Drive in Eldersburg blew down on top of a car during the sudden storm. For more information and pictures, click here.

“Units from Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department, Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Company (Baltimore County), and Gamber & Community Fire Co. were alerted for a tree on a car with people trapped at approximately 6:07 pm.

“First arriving units reported multiple persons trapped. Remaining units arrived from different directions and conducted a rescue operation. Numerous neighbors had already started using chain saws to remove limbs from the car. Two children were rescued and sent to Johns Hopkins Hospital Pediatric Emergency Room by ambulance.”

Meanwhile, firefighters from the Sykesville department worked late into the night going door-to-door in the three-mile area around the Oak Hill, Locust Lane, Liberty Road, and Macbeth Way area of the county checking on citizens and doing a damage assessment.

For several hours in the late evening an emergency response command center was set-up at the Sykesville fire station conference room to coordinate the response to the damage and an evacuation shelter was set-up in the station’s social hall staffed by members of the Red Cross and the Sykesville fire department auxiliary.

The command center was staffed by members of the Sykesville fire department, Maryland State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, the Carroll County Emergency Management Division, and the Carroll County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

In the command center, Sykesville department public information officer Dennis Beard and county emergency management division representative Chrissy Calp helped coordinate the county emergency response efforts with the county roads department, Vivian Laxton, the county public information officer and Chief Ruch, who served as the incident commander.

At the command center, Major Tom Long of the county Sheriff’s Department said sheriff’s department deputies would maintain heightened patrols throughout the night and into Monday.

Chief Ruch said that “come daylight people will be surprised as to how much damage was done to the area.”

According to several citizen reports, the widespread damage was caused by what appeared to have been a tornado.

A funnel cloud was reported to have spotted as citizens scrambled for cover. Firefighters reported trees “twisted” and damaged in swath that travelled east to west across the region.

As midnight fell upon the station, the last of the firefighters who had gone door-to-door returned to the fire station with a house-by-house list of the damaged properties and reported that portions of at least four roads remained closed: Raincliffe, Oakland Mills, Liberty Lake Drive and Slacks Road.

In other parts of the state, WJZ Channel 13 reporter Mike Schuh “reports the damage in Baltimore County was widespread…

“‘Within the darkness, I saw from the corner of my eye, a really dark snarling mass. I guess a funnel cloud was going to go right through the door," said one onlooker.’

“‘We all ran into the basement, stayed there for about a minute or two, and then realized that it passed by,’ said another man.

“The storm packed hail and high winds.

“There were more than 20,000 people without power just in Baltimore County.”

For more of Mr. Schuh’s report, click here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kevindayhoff AT gmail.com.

For the latest information see http://www.explorecarroll.com/
####
20090727 d1 sdosm Possible tornado touches down so CC

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.westgov.net/ Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Possible tornado touch down in the Sykesville Carroll County area

Possible tornado touch down in the Sykesville area

Sunday, July 26, 2009 7:35 pm

Unconfirmed preliminary reports indicate that a tornado may have touched down in the Sykesville area of Carroll County MD. There are sketchy reports of damage and no reports of injuries.

20090726 sdosm Possible tornado touch down in the Sykesville area

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.westgov.net/ Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Maryland State Police: Barricade In Carroll County Has Ended

Maryland State Police: Barricade In Carroll County Has Ended

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2009

BARRICADE IN CARROLL COUNTY HAS ENDED

(Westminster, MD) - Maryland State Police found one person deceased after entering a Carroll
County home this afternoon where they had been since this morning after receiving a phone call from a man who threatened to harm himself.

The deceased has been identified as Carl Michael Byczkowski, 45, of the 600-block Glen Drive, Westminster, Maryland. He sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene by a forensic examiner. Byczkowski will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m. today, troopers at the Westminster Barracks surrounded a single-family home in the 600-block of Glen Drive, in Westminster, Maryland, after receiving a call from a man at that address who said he was going to shoot himself. The man closed the interior blinds to the home when troopers arrived on the scene.

Responding troopers established a perimeter around the house. Due to the statement of the man in the house about his possession and use of a firearm and the proximity of the house to other homes, troopers quickly notified nearby residences to evacuate until the situation was resolved. Area schools were also notified of the incident, but none were in close proximity to the home to be in danger. Detours around the area were established by troopers.

The Maryland State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element (STATE), negotiators from the Hostage Recovery Team, and a representative from the Carroll County
State’s Attorney’s Office responded to the home. Throughout the day, troopers attempted to make contact with Byczkowski, but never received a response.

At about 2:00 p.m. STATE Team members made a tactical entry into the single family home where they found Byczkowski deceased. No one else was in the home.

CONTACT: D/Sgt. James Dewees
Westminster Barrack
4103-386-3000

###

CONTACT: Sergeant Arthur Betts
Office of Media Communications & Marketing
410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)

20090421 SDOSM MSP Barricade In Carroll County Has Ended
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Explore Carroll: Man shoots himself in Westminster standoff

Explore Carroll: Man shoots himself in Westminster standoff

In an update on Troopers On Scene Of Carroll County Barricade; Explore Carroll com is now reporting:

“Man shoots himself in Westminster standoff”

Police are unsure if there are victims inside the house

From staff reports Posted 4/21/09

A man who had barricaded himself inside his Westminster home today from police has apparently killed himself according to Sgt. Arthur Betts of the Maryland State Police.

Read the rest here: “Man shoots himself in Westminster standoff”

http://explorecarroll.com/news/2772/man-barricades-himself-inside-westminster-home/

20090421 SDOSM Exp Carroll Man shoots himself in Wster standoff
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Troopers On Scene Of Carroll County Barricade

Troopers On Scene Of Carroll County Barricade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 21, 2009 2:13 PM

TROOPERS ON SCENE OF CARROLL COUNTY BARRICADE

(Westminster, MD) - Maryland State Police have established a perimeter and are attempting to contact a Carroll County man who is refusing to come out of his house after telling troopers this morning in a phone call that he was going to harm himself.

A positive identification of the man who called has not been made at this time. He is believed to be a 45-year old man in possession of multiple loaded firearms inside of the residence.

Maryland State Police have surrounded a single-family home in the 600-block of Glen Drive, in Westminster, Md.
Troopers have not been able to determine at this time if anyone is in the house with the suicidal man.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m. today, troopers at the Westminster Barracks received a call from a man at that address who said he was going to shoot himself. The man closed the interior blinds to the home when troopers arrived on the scene.

Responding troopers established a perimeter around the house. Due to the statement of the man in the house about his possession and use of a firearm and the proximity of the house to other homes, troopers quickly notified nearby residences to evacuate until the situation is resolved.

Area schools have also been notified of this incident, but none are in close proximity to the home to be in danger.

Detours around the area have been established by troopers.

The Maryland State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element (STATE) has responded to the scene, as have
negotiators from the Hostage Recovery Team, and a representative from the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office.

State Police negotiators have attempted to make contact with the man, but have been unable to do so.

No shots have been fired by the suspect or by police since troopers first arrived on the scene. Troopers are urging the man to surrender and resolve this situation peacefully.


###

CONTACT: Sergeant Arthur Betts
Office of Media Communications & Marketing
410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)

20090421 Troopers On Scene Of Carroll County Barricade

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Manchester house fire quickly extinguished March 9 2009

A Manchester volunteer firefighter puts the finishing touches to extinguishing a house fire in the 3200 block of York Street in Manchester on March 9. Photos by Kevin Dayhoff

Manchester house fire quickly extinguished

By Kevin Dayhoff

At approximately 8:30 in the evening of March 9, units from the Hampstead and Manchester Volunteer Fire Departments responded to a working house fire at 3250 York Street.

The fire was quickly extinguished and units remained on the scene until almost midnight. The Maryland fire marshals’ office is investigating the incident. Victims of the fire were assisted by the Carroll County office of the American Red Cross.

####

Dayhoff Daily Photoblog

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Carroll County Sheriff sets plan for New Year; includes alternative funding and furlough

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Carroll County Sheriff sets plan for New Year; includes alternative funding and furlough

“Sheriff sets plan for New Year; includes alternative funding and furlough”

Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, January 7, 2009 ---- Sheriff Kenneth L. Tregoning is pleased to announce the law enforcement strategic priorities for 2009: “Promote Professional Development & Wellness; Implement New Technologies that Enhance Public Safety Communications & Information Sharing; Promote Service Excellence through Maintenance of [Accreditation] Standards; and, Increase Outreach Efforts.”

As with any organization the establishment of new goals is not the challenge, rather it’s their execution - an increasingly difficult task in a declining economy. In considering Governor Martin O’Malley’s December appeal to elected leaders, Sheriff Tregoning submitted a five (5) day furlough plan to the County Comptroller’s Office this past month, thereby returning the 2% salary increase legislated for his position this year.

With local government freezing employee Career Ladder Promotions this past summer in response to falling revenue projections, Sheriff Tregoning said, “I can not justify accepting a salary increase when my employees aren’t receiving theirs.” Likewise Sheriff Tregoning trimmed several projects from the coming year’s budget before submitting it to the Commissioner’s Budget Office for approval, including funding for transitioning deputies to a different model handgun and non-mandated training programs.

However, to insure that employee safety, professionalism and public service are not compromised by funding shortfalls, the office has established “Professional Development & Wellness” as its top priority. With the lowest rate of disability, death and retirement benefits among Maryland’s Sheriff’s Offices, funds for the evaluation of those programs are included as a budget item. Further, the office plans to expand its partnerships with public safety advocacy groups such as the Law Enforcement Employees & Families Association, and the Concerns of Police Survivors.

Additionally, the office will increase its pursuit of grants and scholarships from professional organizations to fund additional training and equipment needs. In fact, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office was recently notified by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention that it had been awarded more than $27,000 towards the agency’s goal of establishing “Public Safety Communications & Information Sharing”, or interoperability.

Contrary to the declining economy, the demand for police services continues to increase, including the incidents of identity theft, computer crimes and fraud. These crimes are costly to the victims, many of whom are seniors on a fixed income. For law enforcement, the investigations are labor intensive as they require expensive technology and extensive collaboration with criminal justice agencies abroad. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to partner with local and state government to expand the use of the use of technology to enhance investigative solvability and operational efficiency.

Likewise, the county’s population continues to increase in both size and diversity – leading the Sheriff’s Office to “Increase Outreach Efforts” not only to share resources with our government and public safety partners, but to define the community’s changing needs and align Office resources to communicate with new cultures, prevent emerging crime trends and close existing cases.

In as much, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office takes seriously our obligation to provide quality service in a fiscally responsible manner. Until the full impact of budget shortfalls are known, the Sheriff’s Office will continue the cost saving measures implemented this past year, including restrictions on fuel consumption, off-duty vehicle usage and participation in the county’s car wash program. Embracing the challenges that lie ahead, we look towards the continued innovation of our staff and ever expanding partnerships to secure public safety.

# # #

20090107 Carroll County Sheriff sets plan for New Year

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Carroll County Times Other Voices: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea

Carroll County Times Other Voices: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea, Other Voices Saturday, October 25, 2008

Dr. Thomas Scalea, Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, has written a short, but nevertheless compelling and persuasive for the Maryland State Police Medevac system, which has been brought into question as a result of a recent tragedy.

I cannot agree with Dr. Scalea more…

Related: On October 10, 2008 I wrote about The Future of Maryland Medevac in The Tentacle:

The recent tragic crash of the Maryland State Police aviation command Medevac helicopter has unfortunately developed a subplot for those who wish to further a debate about the future of the vital air rescue service.

The debate began before grieving co-workers, friends, and family hardly had a chance to say goodbye to the three rescue workers and one patient who died.

Much can be said about the inhumanity of state elected leaders who would use such a tragedy for political expediency; however, for those who have observed Maryland politics for many decades, there is very little that can surprise any longer.

We live in a state with a national reputation for politicizing everything from algae to windmills – with all the accompanying mediocrity that is associated with the enormous egos of politicians who are rarely held accountable for their mendacious, meddlesome behavior.

Ever since Maryland modeled its Medevac rescue system from the lessons learned on the battlefields of the Vietnam War, it has been copied all over the world with varying success, although arguably, the Maryland system remains the premier service.

Read my entire column here: The Future of Maryland Medevac

Meanwhile, Dr. Scalea wrote…

In the aftermath of the Maryland State Police Medevac helicopter crash, some have called the use of helicopter transports to bring critically injured patients to trauma centers into question.

As the Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, I have a particular perspective. Residents of Carroll County, where trauma patients are generally evacuated to trauma centers in Baltimore, also have a real stake in this discussion.

[…]

Trauma professionals across the state are determined that this recent tragedy will have some positive outcome. We will embrace whatever lessons we can learn. We have a responsibility to assure the public that the Medivac fleet is equipped with the finest technology available and that our protocols are grounded in good science. Above all, we absolutely reject the notion that it is acceptable to let people die to save money. The public needs to know that the system is working, that it is safe, and that it remains the best in the nation and the world.

Thomas M. Scalea, MD, FACS, is Physician-in-Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Francis X Kelly, Professor of Trauma Surgery and Director, Program in Trauma, University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Read Dr. Scalea’s entire piece here: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea

20081025 Carroll County Times Other Voices: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea

The Future of Maryland Medevac in The Tentacle by Kevin E. Dayhoff October 10, 2008

The Future of Maryland Medevac in The Tentacle by Kevin E. Dayhoff October 10, 2008

The recent tragic crash of the Maryland State Police aviation command Medevac helicopter has unfortunately developed a subplot for those who wish to further a debate about the future of the vital air rescue service.

The debate began before grieving co-workers, friends, and family hardly had a chance to say goodbye to the three rescue workers and one patient who died.

Much can be said about the inhumanity of state elected leaders who would use such a tragedy for political expediency; however, for those who have observed Maryland politics for many decades, there is very little that can surprise any longer.

We live in a state with a national reputation for politicizing everything from algae to windmills – with all the accompanying mediocrity that is associated with the enormous egos of politicians who are rarely held accountable for their mendacious, meddlesome behavior.

Ever since Maryland modeled its Medevac rescue system from the lessons learned on the battlefields of the Vietnam War, it has been copied all over the world with varying success, although arguably, the Maryland system remains the premier service.

Since the Medevac rescue missions began in Maryland in 1970, 120,000 trauma patients have received the benefits of getting the best chance of survival in what is termed the “golden hour.”

[...]

Read my entire column here: The Future of Maryland Medevac in The Tentacle by Kevin E. Dayhoff October 10, 2008

20081010 The Future of Maryland Medevac in The Tentacle by Kevin E. Dayhoff

Weather event this evening notice from the Carroll County Office of Public Safety Support Services

Weather event this evening

September 25, 2008

The National Weather Service has issued a rain advisory for this evening. Rain will begin late afternoon and through the evening with accumulations from 1" to 3" possible in certain areas before ending.

Winds will range from 15-25 with gusts upwards to 45 MPH. Higher winds will be prevalent in the western counties while a coastal flood watch will be on the Eastern Shore counties. Light showers will continue through Friday evening.

This has been a message from Carroll County Emergency Management Division of the Office of Public Safety Support Services.

William Hall
Emergency Management Coordinator
Carroll County Office of Public Safety Support Services
225 N. Center Street
Westminster MD 21157
410-386-2877 Fax: 410-848-3794
whall AT ccg.carr.org

"A great place to live, a great place to work, a great place to play."

20080925 Weather event this evening

Carroll County Times letter to the editor: Disaster can strike at any time by Joseph Ensor, Finksburg

Carroll County Times letter to the editor: Disaster can strike at any time by Joseph Ensor, Finksburg

September 7, 2008

Carroll County Times Editor:

Disaster can strike at any time. It can come in the form of a house fire in the middle of the night, a loved one who suffers a heart attack or a power outage that leaves a family in the cold. In just the past two months, Carroll County Red Cross volunteers have responded to seven fires, bringing aid to those who were put out of their homes. While we can't control what happens, we can control how we prepare for and respond to emergencies.

September is National Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross of Central Maryland wants Carroll County residents to take steps to be Red Cross Ready. The best part is it's easy to do.

Make a disaster preparedness kit with a few basic supplies in case you have to evacuate your home for up to three days. Next, make a plan about where to meet your family in the event that phone and other communication lines are down. Also, be informed about the types of disasters that can strike where you live, including home fires, terrorism and severe weather. Finally, get trained in First Aid and CPR.

If you've been putting off getting prepared, now is the time to do something about it. We've even created a free online education module at the Get Prepared section of our Web site www.red cross-cmd.org, to help you out. Together, we can make Carroll County a safer place to live, work and play.

Joseph Ensor, Finksburg

The writer is the chairman of the Carroll County District of American Red Cross of Central Maryland.

20080907 Disaster can strike at any time by Joseph Ensor

Why you should never drive through water flowing over a road

Why you should never drive through water flowing over a road

Retrieved August 28, 2008

Extended Video: Freeport Road Collapse

News 8 chief photojournalist Kevyn Fowler was rolling his camera when flooding took out a road in Freeport. Watch this amazing video!

Hat Tip: James E. Slater, Jr. AICP, QEP, Environmental Compliance Officer, Carroll County Government - - I received this from SHA, If you ever needed a reason not to drive through water flowing over a road, this will give that to you. The video is of a culvert pipe collapse. It lasts 3:30 minutes.

http://www.wmtw.com/video/17144859/index.html

20080828 WMTW TV 8 Freeport Road Collapse