Baltimore Officials Urge Residents to Keep Inlets Clear

The Baltimore Department of Public Works is urging residents to make sure inlets to storm drains are clear before the possible arrival of remnants of Hurricane Irene.

According to the National Weather Service, “tropical storm conditions” are possible by Saturday night, and could drop 2 to 3 inches of new rainfall in a relatively short time. 

The department is concerned that trash and debris could clog inlets and cause localized flooding.

“Number one, you want to prevent flooding from a public works perspective,” said Kurt Kocher, a public works spokesman.

Kocher said there are about 52,000 inlets leading into 1,000 miles of storm drains in the city. He said residents should take ownership of inlets and make sure they’re clear of trash and that vehicles aren’t blocking them.

Areas in north Baltimore near bodies of waters—such as Mount Washington—are areas of concern for the city.

Residents are also being urged to make sure they have back up plans to keep their sump pumps running in case of flooding and power outages. Kocher said homeowners planning to use a generator as a back up should keep them outdoors. 

The department is also urging residents to make sure they have clean water to drink, cook and bathe with in case of power outages impacting the city’s water sanitation system.

“Its pretty simple stuff but it’s crucial,” Kocher said.

Kocher also said the city has taken all the steps it could to prevent any sewage overflows because of heavy rain. But, the city is still in the process of completing repairs to the sewer system stipulated in a consent decree with the EPA.

He added that the possibility of sewage overflows are a concern, but the city is focusing on issues impacting quality of life for residents.

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