WCBC

February 14th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

With electricity restored to a large number of citizens in Allegany County, the warming center and shelter located at the Midland Volunteer Fire Department was closed earlier today, according to emergency services officials.

 

“We had no citizens overnight in the warming shelter located in Midland,” Allegany County Department of Emergency Services Deputy Director Roger Bennett said. “We have decided to close that center to give staff and volunteers a chance to rest. If this center or other centers need to be opened, they can be active within minutes.” 

 

Current updates from FirstEnergy report that approximately 1,000 citizens remain without power across Allegany County. 

 

“Power officials are telling us that global restoration should be by 10 p.m. Friday,” Bennett said. “We still have residents in Frostburg, Cumberland and eastern Allegany County without power.” 

 

At the peak of the winter weather event, nearly 20% of Allegany County was without power, that has since dropped to 3%, according to Bennett. 

 

Twenty volunteers from Midland Fire Department staffed the warming center and later shelter for the past 24 hours. 

 

“We greatly appreciate the time that the volunteers from Midland have dedicated to the citizens of the county and the Department of Emergency Services in setting up and maintaining the shelter at their station,” Bennett added. “We rely on the collaboration between our agency and volunteer agencies to make emergencies like this operate seamlessly.”