CITY HALL PROTEST CANCELED
By Stephen Janis
A brutal nor’easter that dumped up to two feet of snow in some parts of Maryland has effectively shut down the state and city as emergency planning officials scrambled to clear major thoroughfares and deliver emergency services.
In a televised news conference Saturday morning Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley urged residents to stay home while road crews struggled to battle a storm that left more than 27 inches of snow in Elkridge. “We are battling Mother Nature,” the governor said from the state highway emergency command center.
“We are going to be digging out of this for some time to come.”
The National Weather Service reported 22 inches of snow at BWI Airport as of 10 a.m. Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley said the airport was shut down. Heavy to moderate snow was expected to fall through the afternoon, adding another 2-3 inches of accumulation. Heavy winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour were predicted for Northern Baltimore County.
“Even if the storm is over, do not head out to the airport," she said.
MTA buses and surface rail trains were not running, Swaim-Staley said. However, subway service between Mondawmin Mall and Johns Hopkins Hospital was running a normal schedule.
“We don’t know when service will be restored," she said.
State officials said nearly 2,400 snow plows had worked through the night to battle the storm. The 695-Beltway had one “passable” lane, officials said.
The Maryland National Guard has deployed 120 Humvees to assist in emergency rescues.
More than 150,000 residents concentrated in Montgomery County were without power as of Saturday morning.
Despite a major December blizzard that cost the state $27 million, the governor expressed confidence that Maryland was adequately prepared to fund emergency operations, noting the $60 million budgeted this year for snow emergencies.
Meanwhile, community activist Chris Taylor canceled his planned reform protest outside City Hall scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.
"This is the first storm since 2003 that actually lived up to its billing. I cannot in good conscience ask anyone to attend today's rally for reform at 2 p.m.,” Taylor wrote in an email Saturday morning.
“We will have another next Saturday at 2 p.m. in front of City Hall. I will still be at City Hall today at 2 p.m. if anyone can make it.”
By late afternoon, Northen Parkway was still only one lane and barely passaable. Meanwhile, York Road, one of the city's main thoroughfares was populated with more pedistrians than cars.
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