The city of Annapolis deployed new flood barriers near City Dock around midday Tuesday to combat a storm that brought high winds and rising floodwaters.
City workers installed the flood mitigation technology between the Fleet Reserve Club and the Annapolis waterfront. The tent-like, accordion-shaped barriers can be laid down in front of floodwaters. The barrier fills up with water, preventing flooding from going farther into the street. By around 2 p.m., the city had closed Randall and Dock streets as floodwaters rose.
“The timing could not have been more perfect,” said city spokesperson Mitchelle Stephenson of the new technology.
Around 2:30 p.m., Kevin Simmons, director of the Office of Emergency Management, provided a brief weather update livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page. The worst of the flooding is now expected at City Dock around 7 a.m., Wednesday, he said. The city is expecting flooding similar to level that hit the city in October 2021, according to Nicole Torres, public information officer for the Office of Emergency Management.
In 2021, the water rose 4.9 feet above normal levels.
The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
City Dock in Annapolis begins to flood Tuesday afternoon. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
City Dock in Annapolis begins to flood Tuesday afternoon. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
City Dock in Annapolis begins to flood Tuesday afternoon. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
City Dock in Annapolis begins to flood Tuesday afternoon. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
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The city deployed new flood prevention technology on Compromise Street. The accordion-style, tent-like barrier that can be laid down across an area of land. The barrier fills up with water, preventing flooding from going farther. the technology was observed at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.(Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
The city deployed new flood prevention technology on Compromise Street. The accordion-style, tent-like barrier that can be laid down across an area of land. The barrier fills up with water, preventing flooding from going farther. the technology was observed at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.\xc2\xa0(Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
The city deployed new flood prevention technology on Compromise Street. The accordion-style, tent-like barrier that can be laid down across an area of land. The barrier fills up with water, preventing flooding from going farther. the technology was observed at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
The city deployed new flood prevention technology on Compromise Street. The accordion-style, tent-like barrier that can be laid down across an area of land. The barrier fills up with water, preventing flooding from going farther. the technology was observed at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
The city deployed new flood prevention technology on Compromise Street. The accordion-style, tent-like barrier that can be laid down across an area of land. The barrier fills up with water, preventing flooding from going farther. the technology was observed at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Department of Public Works personnel fill and load sandbags for residents. The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Department of Public Works personnel fill and load sandbags for residents. The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Rich Turner, left, and Trevon Williams, right, with the Department of Public Works fill and load sandbags for residents. The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Department of Public Works personnel fill and load sandbags for residents. The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Department of Public Works personnel fill and load sandbags for residents. The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Resident Fred Muir loads sandbags into his car. The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
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The City of Annapolis provided sandbags to residents and businesses at City Dock prior to expected rain and flooding. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
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The city is under a coastal flood warning from noon Tuesday until 11 p.m. Wednesday and a high wind warning from 3 p.m. Tuesday until 1 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Winds are expected to reach 25 to 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts could reach up to 60 mph.
“We are looking at a serious storm surge in addition to water inundations,” Simmons said.
The city is advising people to stay inside.
“I want to ensure the public that you are in safe hands,” Mayor Gavin Buckley said Tuesday afternoon. “We have an excellent team here at the Office of Emergency Management. Our police are out in full force; our fire department, our harbormaster [Beth Bellis], everybody is at the ready if anything catastrophic happens.”
Anne Arundel County Schools will open two hours late on Wednesday, the school system announced. There will be no morning half-day ECI classes, and no morning sessions at the Centers of Applied Technology North or South.
The barrier technology, from a company called Dutch Water Prevention, was implemented of Director of Public Works Burr Vogel’s presentation on his findings from a trip to the Netherlands to study resilience and alternative transportation practices. The barriers were the most directly applicable technology that the group saw on the trip, Vogel said in November. They cost about $5,000.
The Annapolis Public Works Department distributed sandbags at Dock Street behind the Annapolis Harbormaster’s Office until about noon Tuesday. Residents were given five sandbags, while businesses received 10. Most businesses near City Dock, such as Blanca Flor Silver Jewelry, Bitty and Beau’s and Pip’s Dock Street Dogs remained open Tuesday morning.
“]Cory Cich, a manager at Pip’s, said his team was taking condiments out of the fridge as well as elevating any items that were on the floor at the hot dog stand.
Cich said they will be using the 10 bags given to them and some saved sandbags from the last time a coastal flood warning was issued.
“It’s a lot of just do what you can and pray,” he said.
Other announcements and closures
City offices will remain open Wednesday. Essential employees will continue to work as scheduled. The city implemented a liberal leave policy for all other employees.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Naval Academy will execute a two-hour delayed start with classes beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The Annapolis harbormaster, Bellis, has asked boat owners to check on their boats after each high tide.
The city’s downtown Magenta shuttle will continue down Duke of Gloucester Street and make a left onto Green St and return up Main Street. The bus stop near Fleet Reserve on Compromise Street will be missed.
The “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center will maintain regular hours during the storm.
The Office of Emergency Management has turned the Stanton Community Center at 92 W. Washington St. into an emergency warming center until 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The Annapolis Call Center is open and can be reached at 410-260-2211.
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