Col. Edward C. Rothstein
Talk about weathering a storm.
As Hurricane Sandy moved up the East Coast on Sunday and forecasts about its impact in our region became more apparent, 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.
Regional transit systems, schools, airlines, government offices and places of business announced closures. There was a continued focus on planning for worst-case scenarios and taking proactive steps to do things that could make this difficult situation better.
These proactive steps included the decision to close Fort Meade on Monday and Tuesday, requiring only emergency/essential employees to report for work.
We did our best to keep the post community informed about weather conditions, closures and what to do in emergency situations.
I appreciate the responses posted on Fort Meade’s Facebook page from community members thanking staff for their hard work and efforts to keep everyone safe during this storm.
This is not the first time Fort Meade has had to react to severe weather. That said, I could not be more proud of the way many of you banded together during this difficult situation.
A group surveys the damage from a fallen tree in Heritage Park during Hurricane Sandy. (Photo by Col. Jen Buckner)
Fallen trees, disrupted power service and flooded roadways are inevitable when a storm as massive as Sandy hits our area.But like other times when we have had to recover from what nature had dealt us, this community has found a way to come together.I am very proud of our Directorates of Emergency Services and Public Works, our first responders whenever we have bad weather, and in knowing my operations director is at the helm while our Public Affairs Office is ensuring the command messages are conveyed and the community is involved.
The storm is over, but you should note that they are still on the job today doing their part to make sure life as we know it at Fort Meade returns to normal.
Other post partners, such as Picerne Military Housing, also continue to coordinate efforts to repair damages and resume normal operations.
Each time there is a storm I am thankful we have such dedicated work crews and staff, who immediately assess the damage and work tirelessly to return things to normal.
And even though the storm is over, we’re still in storm mode. Safety first! Our Emergency Operations Center is still up and running. We continue to access the damage and we are monitoring the weather to ensure workers remain safe and are able to continue cleanup efforts.
Please keep in mind that just because the worst of the storm is behind us, there are still things to remember to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy.
- Do not drive through flooded roads. Cars can be swept away or break down.
- Continue to listen to announcements in local media and on our Facebook page to stay abreast of safety information.
- If you lost power, throw away any food that may be unsafe to eat.
- Be aware of possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards.
- If you do not know whether your water is safe, boil the water before you use it for anything, which includes brushing teeth, cooking, drinking or bathing.
And please take the time to access your emergency preparedness plan. Sit down as a family and talk about things you can do to improve your plan. If you used items from your emergency kit, now is the time to replace those items.
My thoughts are constantly centered on the safety and well-being of our community. I urge everyone to take ownership for their safety and well-being.
Every family should have a home emergency kit. Your kit should contain essential food, water and supplies to live on for at least three days. Keep your emergency kit in a designated location in your home and in an easy-to-carry container in case you need to evacuate.
Team Meade doesn’t just talk resiliency, we live it.
I know this storm presented many of you with stress. But I’m also convinced it inspired many of you to shine, despite the dark clouds.
Resiliency is the ability to work through adversity and challenges and find a way to glow in the dark.
Let’s all find ways to maintain our resiliency and be prepared to weather the next storm with all the light and power we need.
Have a great week!
