Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1958-03-27
County
Hard Hit
By Storm
By Steed Evans
staff Reporter

Nearly recovered from
mid-February's record snow
fall and looking hopefully
toward warmer weather,
Montgomery county was
brought to its knees again Ly
a gripping snow that knocked
out electric power and tele-
phone lines and for a time,
threatened to create a major
crisis.
The combination Of the two
great snowfalls and the disas-
trous drought last summer will
be remembered as among ma
lures cruelest blows in recent
Maryland history.
And the spectre of flooding
doomed as a possibility as the
Sentinel went to press.
Only the fact that tempera-
lures remained above freezing
during and after last weeks
snow prevented critical, aerner-
gency conditions.
The heavy moist snow collect
ed like SO much white lead on
tree limbs and electric wires,
creating a tangled jungle and
utility wires In some areas.
Whole portions Of the county
were temporarily isolated, cut off
from communication and ma
rO0ned by two feet OF snow.
Hundreds Of families remained
shivering in their icy homes,
without lights, until struggling
line crews cleared miles Of fallen
wires.
Electric cooking stoves, fur
naces, refrigerators and well
pumps sat lifeless. HoFneowners
with fireplaces were the lucky
ones.
In many cases men had to
melt snow for water. Long un.
used Kerosene lamps and candles
were pressed into service.
Countless appropriations were
used to get water. Some residents
hooked gasoline lawnmowers to
belt-driven well pumps. Portable
generators saved deep freezer
contents.
Robert Wilson, PEPCO vice
president in charge of public re-
lations, could only compare the
havoc wrought to the company's
facilities to that caused by hurrl-
can Hazel, In October, 1854.
THAT cost us more than
quarter million dollars and this
storm will cost us substantially
more,v Wilson said.
Wilson said there was no way
to estimate the number of Gus
toners without service In Mont
gomery county, but that $4,000
Of the utilitys 10000 customers
In the entire Metropolitan district
Excluding most of Virginia
were without power at sometime
during the storm.
PEPCO serves GA percent of
county, its north
and eastern boundaries stopping
on the far sides of Germantown,
Laytonsville, Jacksonville, Olney
and Sandy Spring. Customers on
the other side Of PEPCO's service
are serviced by the Baltimore
Gas and Electric Co.
Falling trees caused most Of
PEPCO's headaches. About 40
percent of the company's lis
that distribute cleo
tricity from main generating sta
lions to householders. were
out. Lines from these
carry 1000 volts each.
All Of PEPCO's customers had
power by Tuesday night but
there still remains three weeks
Of cleanup work, Wilson said.
Much of this consists Of convert
ing temporary repairs TO perma-
nency.
The Montgomery County Civil
Defense office--with the aid Of
)ther County agencies dis
patched auxiliary generators
when possible, established a net
work OF ham radio operators 10
provide communications In areas
acking phone service and cleo
richly and funneied information
% the public through a schedule
If announcements to news media.
Generators to hook up with
motors and provide heat
we're obtained by Civil Defense
rom Federal agencies for sever
Il homes for elderly people.
Deputy Civil Defense Director
!. Roy Hartwig, who reminded
county citizens after the Febru-
Try blizzard TO store a z day
upply OF food for use in emer.
.encies, said the storm was Fan