As Hurricane Irene approaches, Talbot County Emergency Services started the evacuation of residents from Oxford and west of the Oak Creek Bridge about 4 p.m. today. An emergency shelter was being set up at the Easton High School starting at 8 p.m. Friday.
Residents were told to bring a change of clothes, a pillow, blanket, mat or cot and personal toiletries. The shelter will remain open as long as needed.
In St. Michaels, Talbot Street merchants boarded up their front windows or taped their glass in preparation of Irene’s arrival Saturday evening.
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Boat owners flocked to the county’s boat ramps today, pulling their workboats and runabouts. The crew at Higgin’s Yacht Yard worked feverously all day hauling and blocking sail and powerboats.
By 2 p.m. Friday, every D-cell battery in Talbot County had been sold as residents stock up for the inevitable loss of electrical service. All day, motorists lined up at local service stations to fill their tanks. The traffic light at Routes 50 and 404 had westbound traffic backed up to Easton as beach vacationers tried to get out of the storms path.
At the Big Pickle on Talbot Street, a Hurricane Party was underway with discount prices on drinks, including a Hurricane for $5.
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