It has caused evacuations. Please continue to monitor the ocean city websites for up to date information on Irene.

Keep checking the towns website.  You will not be allowed into OC unless something changes.

Emergency Services Department

Ocean City Initiates Phase Three of Emergency Plan

Updated: 3:15 p.m. 8/25/11

Ocean City Emergency Management officials will initiate phase three of the hurricane action plan in preparation for Hurricane Irene. Phase three will go into effect at midnight tonight.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan has signed a proclamation declaring a local State of Emergency.

All persons other than identified emergency personnel are ordered to evacuate. Visitors are asked to return to their principle residences. Ocean City residents are asked to seek shelter elsewhere.

Utilizing the authority under a local State of Emergency, the Mayor is banning the sale of all alcohol in Ocean City and requests that all businesses close beginning at midnight.

All incoming traffic to Ocean City, Maryland, will be limited to emergency personnel. No other vehicles will be permitted entry to the island, except by approved authority (Mayor, City Manager and Emergency Services Director).

Ocean City Municipal Transportation System is providing transportation for special needs individuals. For special needs transportation, please call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606. International student workforce evacuation continues and will be completed by tomorrow morning.

The Ocean City Government Cable Access Channel 4, the Ocean City website www.ocmdemergency.com, recorded emergency management line, 410-723-6666 and Ocean City advisory radio station 1670 AM will remain operational for further advisories.

Ocean City is expected to receive a significant impact from Hurricane Irene.

Easterly gale force winds should start affecting the area on Saturday, August 27 at 5 p.m. with hurricane-force winds arriving around 4 a.m. and lasting for a period of eight hours. The highest wind speeds from Hurricane Irene should occur near 9 a.m. when top sustained winds, from the north, could reach 90 mph with gusts near 120 mph. Winds should decrease below hurricane force shortly thereafter.

Sustained winds will fall below gale force after 3 p.m. and generally be from the north during this period of decreasing winds. Expect gusts above gale force level for several more hours thereafter.

The total rainfall for the Ocean City area over the next three days is forecast to be 9.5 inches. This can vary significantly as tropical storm and hurricane rainfall is very difficult to predict.

Storm surge is expected to be six-feet above normal high tide cycles resulting in significant flooding in low-lying areas

OC is asking people to delay their visits due to hurricane Irene. For more most current  information see this Town of Ocean City Emergency Services Department site.

Here is the announcement currently on that site:

Ocean City Initiates Phase I of Emergency Plan

Updated: 8:30 a.m. 8/25/11

Ocean City Emergency Management officials have initiated phase one of the hurricane action plan in preparation for Hurricane Irene.

All persons desiring to travel to Ocean City are asked to postpone their visits until the existing situation improves.

Mobile home residents in Ocean City and those living in known flood-prone areas should secure their homes and prepare for possible evacuation.

Persons should secure or move all watercraft.

All persons are asked to tune into Ocean City Government Access Channel (Channel 4) for further detailed information or advisories. Updates will also be provided on recorded emergency management line, 410-723-6666, www.ocmdemergency.com and on 1670 AM.

Ocean City has also initiated evacuation of all international workforce students. All international workforce students will report to assigned transportation pick-up location. They will be transported to predetermined staging location(s). The International workforce students will then be under the jurisdiction, and become the responsibility of, the State of Maryland, by prior agreement, for further transportation and relocation.

Ocean City is expected to receive a significant impact from Hurricane Irene.

Easterly gale force winds should start affecting the area on Saturday, August 27 at 6 p.m. with storm force winds arriving around 4 a.m. and northeasterly hurricane force winds arriving near 6 a.m. The highest wind speeds from Hurricane Irene should occur near 9 a.m. when top sustained winds, from the north, could reach 90 mph with gusts near 112 mph. Winds should decrease below hurricane force shortly thereafter.

Sustained winds will fall below gale force after 3 p.m. and generally be from the north during this period of decreasing winds. Expect gusts above gale force level for several more hours thereafter.

The total rainfall for the Ocean City area over the next three days is forecast to be 9.5 inches. This can vary significantly as tropical storm and hurricane rainfall is very difficult to predict.

I have been in Ocean City twice when both visitors and residents were ordered to evacuate. Keep checking here for the latest updates : http://oceancitymd.gov/Emergency_Management/

There will be plenty of notice in time to make plans.

The official storm information can be found here:  http://oceancitymd.gov/Emergency_Management/

Here is the current statement from the town: 

Ocean City Emergency Management officials have initiated phase one of the hurricane action plan in preparation for Hurricane Irene.

All persons desiring to travel to Ocean City are asked to postpone their visits until the existing situation improves.

Mobile home residents in Ocean City and those living in known flood-prone areas should secure their homes and prepare for possible evacuation.

Persons should secure or move all watercraft.

All persons are asked to tune into Ocean City Government Access Channel (Channel 4) for further detailed information or advisories. Updates will also be provided on recorded emergency management line, 410-723-6666, www.ocmdemergency.com and on 1670 AM.

Ocean City has also initiated evacuation of all international workforce students. All international workforce students will report to assigned transportation pick-up location. They will be transported to predetermined staging location(s). The International workforce students will then be under the jurisdiction, and become the responsibility of, the State of Maryland, by prior agreement, for further transportation and relocation.

Ocean City is expected to receive a significant impact from Hurricane Irene.

Easterly gale force winds should start affecting the area on Saturday, August 27 at 6 p.m. with storm force winds arriving around 4 a.m. and northeasterly hurricane force winds arriving near 6 a.m. The highest wind speeds from Hurricane Irene should occur near 9 a.m. when top sustained winds, from the north, could reach 90 mph with gusts near 112 mph. Winds should decrease below hurricane force shortly thereafter.

Sustained winds will fall below gale force after 3 p.m. and generally be from the north during this period of decreasing winds. Expect gusts above gale force level for several more hours thereafter.

The total rainfall for the Ocean City area over the next three days is forecast to be 9.5 inches. This can vary significantly as tropical storm and hurricane rainfall is very difficult to predict.

I have been in Ocean City for at least 5 hurricanes and the only foced hurricane evacuation was the one in 1986 which tore up the boardwalk and cause Coastal Highway to be a sandy beach.  I still have pieces of the boardwalk from that storm (and great pics to)

I remember one year when they canceleld Sunfest due to the hurricane but the evacuation was strongle suggested but not manditory. 

It's not always good to be in Ocean City when the these storms do come.  I remember another year working at the Harbor Watch and seeing the whole inlet parking lot under water.  (Salt water is not, I repeat is not good for your car)

That being said, it's too early to tell if there will be evacuations.

There's supposed to be some weather activity coming from Canada that may push the hurricane out to see but again, it's too early to tell.

Updates will also be provided on recorded emergency management line, 410-723-6666, www.ocmdemergency.com


Stay tuned.....................

I personally recommend first visiting the Town of OC's website for the most up to date information and their emergency preparedness plan (http://oceancitymd.gov/Emergency_Management/).  This site will provide the most up to date details concerning their emergency operations.

Second, contact your hotel or vacation rental agency regularly to verify they are still accepting new arrivals. 

Thank you,
Anna G.