CUMBERLAND — The 90 mph winds that blew through Allegany County late this past Friday trapped numerous campers on the Green Ridge State Forest until trees toppled across roads could be cut out the following day.
Meteorologists call the high winds a “super derecho.”
“There were several campsites affected,” said Western Regional Forester Robert Webster on Thursday.
“Campers were trapped along places like Twigg Road and at Bond’s Landing,” Webster said. “They used their cell phones to call the forest headquarters, but for some reason the headquarters’ generator didn’t kick in when power was lost there and the campers couldn’t make connection.”
Sometime on Saturday, forest personnel, along with the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Allegany County Roads Department, began removing the fallen trees.
Webster said he was unaware of any injuries or illnesses associated with the situation.
Other roads closed by fallen trees included Jacobs and Kasecamp roads, according to forest spokeswoman Robin Roland.
Somewhat complicating the situation is the fact that the bulk of the forest’s staff is in the western United States fighting wildfires. Forest Supervisor Mark Beal is away too, fighting a fire in Virginia.
“All the roads on the Green Ridge are now open,” Webster said.
On the Savage River State Forest in Garrett County, a number of the blocked roads were those maintained, and thus cleared, by the county. They included Savage River, Big Run, New Germany, Avilton-Lonaconing and Dry Run roads.
“Our people cleared the trails that had been blocked by fallen trees,” Webster said.
People camped in the Snaggy Mountain area of the Potomac-Garrett State Forest on Friday night were temporarily delayed from leaving until the road was partially opened, Webster said. By Monday evening that road was completely cleared.
Paul Peditto, who directs the state’s Wildlife & Heritage Service, said there was little damage to wildlife management areas.
“We generally dodged the bullet. Although we lost some dead timber, we didn’t experience any major infrastructure impacts, mostly due to the fact that we keep our infrastructure to a minimum. Fewer buildings means less upkeep and more money to do the work we do for hunters and others who enjoy Maryland’s wildlife and WMAs.”
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.
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