The National Weather Service is monitoring Tropical Storm Isaias, presently located off the coast of the Florida. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that the storm will move rapidly up the East Coast and will affect the Eastern Shore of Maryland late Monday night and throughout the day on Tuesday.

Forecasters believe that Isaias will remain a strong tropical storm as it moves into the area. Residents can expect winds of 39-74 mph and rainfall of 4-6 inches. Flash flooding is likely in vulnerable areas, with minor to moderate tidal flooding. Tornadoes also are possible.

The Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and its response partners continue to closely monitor this system and ask people in the community to do the same. Residents also are encouraged to review their emergency plans, update their contact information, and prepare their homes for a possible storm.

“Taking steps to prepare before the storm will help reduce its effects on you, your family, and your home,” says Emergency Services Director Clay Stamp. “Those living in low lying tidal areas should monitor the situation closely as the storm moves up the coast. All readiness actions should be completed by Monday evening.”

Talbot County DES recommends that citizens take the following precautions:

• Clean storm drains and gutters on your house to prevent overflow and water buildup.
• Don’t wait. Communicate. Know how to get in contact with your friends and family during any emergency.
• Fuel up your automobile before any storm.
• If you have a basement in your house, shelve household items and make sure any electronic equipment is not lying directly on the floor.
• As always, if you encounter an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately and a dispatcher will send the appropriate resources to address your emergency.

Talbot County Department of Emergency Services has been and will continue to participate in daily conference calls with the National Weather Services, state partners, and local partners. The Talbot County Emergency Operations Center has begun to coordinate with our partners around monitoring this storm.

For more information about hurricane preparedness and to register for Talbot County Citizen Alerts, visit the Talbot Department of Emergency Services website at www.talbotdes.org. Residents call also follow Talbot DES on Facebook and download the free Talbot DES app for mobile devices.