December 20, 2009
"The light rail may have some issue with capacity at the parking lots that you normally use, so for the North End, people north of the city, they should use Warren Road as an overflow lot," MTA administrator Ralign T. Wells said Sunday. "For the South End, they should use BWI Business District as an overflow parking lot as well. But the services are operational and we are encouraging people to use our light rail and Metro system for the game."
The game between the Ravens and the Chicago Bears was pushed back to 4:15 p.m. in anticipation of the storm.
By Matthew Hay Brown
A good Samaritan
Updated 11 a.m.: Chuck Kiessling was sitting in his Glen Burnie home watching TV Saturday afternoon when he heard the Baltimore Washington Medical Center needed volunteers to help bring staff to and from the hospital.
Kiessling, a design consultant, hopped in his red 1999 Ford truck and headed for the hospital.
"The hospitals have always been here when I needed them, so when they put out the word they needed some help, I was available and had the means," he said. "I like to think if anybody needs the hospital for anything, their staff is here to support them."
Though he didn't get stuck, Kiessling said the snow was coming down faster than the plows could keep up with it. On Saturday, some of the side roads were blocked, and the main roads were snow covered but drivable.
Kiessling called it a night at 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, and was back at the hospital helping again at 6 a.m. Sunday. The trips have taken him as far as Annapolis and Ellicott City, he said, and he plans on volunteering as long as he is needed today.
"This is my first time, and it won't be my last," he said. "As long as I'm able, I'll keep doing it. ... It's nice to know you're able to help somebody."
By Sam Sessa
The show must go on
Updated 10:45 a.m.: The record snowfall won't stop many performances in the city from going on as scheduled. The Holiday Spectacular with BSO, Dreamgirls at the Hippodrome and performances of The Santaland Diaries and Around the World in 80 Days at CenterStage will all be staged today.
BSO said it understood some ticketholders would not be able to make it to the Meyerhoff today and was offering liberal exchanges for remaining shows on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Walters Art Museum will be open today, though without walk-in tours, but the Baltimore Museum of Art will remain closed until Monday.
By Tim Swift
Few outages reported
Updated 10:35 a.m.: Despite the large amounts of snowfall, Baltimore Gas and Electric is reporting less than 250 homes in area are currently without power. The storm knocked out service to more than 9,000 customers yesterday, mostly in Baltimore City and Baltimore and Prince George's counties, but crews quickly made repairs.
By Tim Swift
Volunteers needed
Updated 9:50 a.m.: Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie is calling Sunday for volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles to help carry physicians, nurses and nursing support staff to and from work. Interested persons are asked to call the hospital at 410-787-4800.
By Matthew Hay Brown
Record-breaking snow
Updated 9:30 a.m.: The snow that you'll be tackling with shovels and back muscles on Sunday broke nearly all official December records, not just for Baltimore, but also for Washington's Reagan National Airport, and for Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia.
By Frank Roylance
Bears ready for the game
Updated 9:10 a.m.: After two days of travel difficulties for the Chicago Bears, the Ravens are still scheduled to kick off against the late-arriving NFC North team at 4:15 p.m. today at M&T Bank Stadium, an NFL official said. A record snowstorm for this area and airplane troubles forced the Bears to rearrange their schedule Friday and Saturday. Their flight arrived at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at about 10:50 p.m. last night, only 17 hours before kickoff in what is a critical game for the Ravens' playoff hopes.
By Jamison Hensley
