OCEAN CITY, Md., FENIWICK ISLAND, Del. -- On Friday, people in Ocean City and Fenwick Island prepared for Tropical Storm Ophelia to touch down on Delmarva with heavy rain and winds, and the potential for flooding and power outages.
The Ocean City Fire Department began preparing for the storm at the beginning of the week. Chief Richard Bowers says they've gathered life jackets to rescue people in the case of serious flooding. The department has two boats and boat operators on hand, as well as a high water military truck.
He says the department is notifying people with updates about the storm via Facebook, email, and text message. Bowers says there's a checklist of items people can do to ensure they are prepared.
"Check your smoke alarm and CO detectors and make sure they are working properly," says Bowers. "If we all lose power, it is very important to leave a gas generator outside. Anything loose, because of the wind, you want to secure it in some manner. Bring it inside. Close your windows, close your doors. These are the simple things. Make sure you have water and most importantly, if you do have a fire or medical emergency, dial 9-11 and we will respond to any and all emergencies during the storm."
On the boardwalk, the City closed seawall to keep water out, if necessary.
Boardwalk businesses, like Shopper's Paradise, had to adjust to the increasingly strong winds early in the day. Daria Tarlapan put sandbags on clothing racks to keep them from blowing away.
"I really feel afraid about the storm, because I always was afraid from the films and the videos that I watch about the storms because it's terrible," says Tarlapan. "I hope that all will be good today, but we will see."
Further up Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island, neighbors were getting ready for the worst. Longtime resident John Kleinstuber dug out his two generators in his garage and ensured they work in case the area loses power.
"Like everyone else, I'm watching the news, watching the weather channel and all that kind of good stuff," says Kleinstuber.. "I'm down here making sure my generators are all ready to go. They haven't been run for awhile, so it's a good idea to know they're gonna start when it's time to."
He added that bayside flooding in town can be rough during tropical storms.
"The water can back up, and we might have water up the street," says Kleinstuber. "We can deal with that because when it recedes, it just goes back. On the ocean, hopefully it won't get too much of a hit because that's the money maker."
Neighbor Kathy Bason who lives on Fenwick's oceanside says she isn't worried about flooding there, but moved her car and gathered candles to brace for the potential impact of high winds.
"Each storm is different, so we'll see," says Bason. "But right now, I'm not concerned. Take precautions, but use common sense."
