Community Corner

Howard County Officials Urge Residents 'Don't Drive'

As conditions deteriorate thanks to Hurricane Sandy, officials are asking people to stay home.

Howard County officials are asking residents not to drive as Hurricane Sandy brings high winds and heavy rain to the area.

In a statement released Monday morning, County Executive Ken Ulman said that because of the expected dangerous conditions, "We are asking that you limit non-essential travel and activities during this time."

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Schools, Howard County government offices and many businesses are closed Monday and winds are forecast to increase throughout the day, gusting up to 60 mph at times, according to the statement. 

"We hope that residents will have little reason to venture out unnecessarily," Ulman said. "By urging residents to stay off the roads, we can ensure that our first responders can more quickly and efficiently respond to emergencies as they arise.”

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With power outages predicted, officials are also preparing for traffic lights to go dark, according to the statement. A new law requires that drivers treat intersections with lights that have gone out as if they had four-way stop signs.

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