Irene vs. Harford County: Government Offices Closed Monday

5:12 p.m. Harford County Public Schools are closed Monday.

4:54 p.m. Harford County government offices are closed Monday. Essential personnel should still report.

4:39 p.m. If you have a downed tree or debris in your yard and you live in:

Town of Bel Air: You are responsible for chopping the tree up and transporting any debris to a county landfill. The town is not cleaning up yards, a dispatcher for the said.

If there is a tree in the road or on a house, call the police department at 410-638-4500. Do not touch trees with wires on them.

Harford County: Take debris to the Scarboro Landfill at 3135 Scarboro Road in Street beginning Monday.

More information to come.

3:34 p.m. There are 89 roads closed in Harford County. For the complete list, click here.

About 51,000 Harford County BGE customers are still without electric. The power company has returned service to about 37,800 in Harford.

More than 450,000 BGE customers across Maryland are still without power.

From Harford County government:

The county’s emergency shelter at Patterson Mill Middle/High School remains open for county residents who wish to use it.  Fifteen people (13 adults and two children) stayed at the shelter overnight Saturday into Sunday.

Approximately 20 structures were reported as sustaining significant damage from falling debris.  The Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits (DILP) has four crews of inspectors that are preforming structural assessments determine whether the structures are habitable. For safety reasons and to allow utility crews to perform their work, Harford County residents are asked to stay off the roads  today  unless absolutely necessary.

If travel is necessary, drivers are reminded to treat intersections with malfunctioning traffic signals as four-way stops.  Also, residents using generators are advised to ensure that there is adequate ventilation so as to negate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Hurricane Irene has left her mark on Harford County, and  it will be days and even weeks until everything is back to normal,” County Executive David Craig stated. “I have to commend the EOC and our county crews who have worked around the clock to coordinate recovery efforts.”“I want to assure all Harford County residents that we will be working 24-7 to restore our infrastructure, and I ask for their cooperation and understanding during this process.”   

2:19 p.m. Two Maryland State Police troopers are directing traffic at one of Harford County's most treacherous intersections—Maryland Route 24 and Constant Friendship Boulevard.

"Use common sense and try to be vigilant when you get into intersections that don’t have lights," a dispatcher for the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack said.

1:10 p.m. About 50,000 Harford County BGE residents are still without power. More than 465,000 Maryland BGE customers and 150,000 Pepco customers in Montgomery and Prince George's County are without electricity.

About 38,000 Harford County BGE residents have had their power restored.

1:01 p.m. Havre de Grace suffered "minimal damage" Saturday night into early Sunday, Chief Teresa Walter said in an email.

12:21 p.m. Harford County firefighters have been busy since Hurricane Irene moved through the area.

In the 2200 block of Castleton Road in Darlington earlier this morning, a "well-involved" fire damaged a trailer, according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.

Firefighters sustained "minor injuries," but no residents were hurt, Gardiner said.

A Jarrettsville house fire was contained to a single bedroom earlier in the morning. The family escaped with no injuries.

Gardiner urged residents to exercise caution and common sense when driving. Police and emergency personnel have not been able to respond to every dangerous road situation, especially those regarding downed wires.

11:33 a.m. No decision has been made on whether Harford County Public Schools will open for their first classes of the school year Monday.

Manager of Communications Teri Kranefeld said school officials have been working "around the clock since Friday" with the Emergency Operations Center.

"At this point we’re trying to work with the county to see where the power is out," Kranefeld told Patch.

She said the number of passable roads in the county will be a significant determining factor.

"The decision will be made at some point today but I can’t really give you a timeframe because we’re tyring to get out and assess the damage," she said. "[We'll] do what will keep all the kids safe."

is still being used as a shelter for displaced residents, Kranefeld said.

Decisions could be made on a school-by-school or a countywide basis.

11:19 a.m. Main Street and Bond Street in downtown Bel Air have no power.

10:01 a.m. From Harford County Emergency Manager Rick Ayers:

The County has over 56,000 customers without power and several trees are down on county roads making driving conditions hazardous. Also, the traffic lights at many major intersections are not functioning. County law enforcement officials are requesting county citizens to remain off the roads today if at all possible. Also, they would like to remind motorists that when traffic signals are out, the intersection becomes a 4 way stop and to yield the right away accordingly. 

The county is also requesting that citizens do not call 911 to report flooded basements or report power outages. If you are without power and want to call BG&E that phone number is 1-877-778-2222 or Delmarva Power at 1-800-898-8042

9:40 a.m. , nearly 50,000 Harford County residents are without power. The area is still experiencing wind gusts up to 60 mph and remains under a tropical storm and flood warning.

At least 10 trees were reported to have fallen on houses overnight while 68 roads and counting are closed in Harford. For the full list, click here.

A large tree was down early Sunday causing an electrical fire on Williams Street.

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