Wind Advisory Issued in Prince George's County

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory Friday for Prince George's County, saying the area could see gusts up to 55 mph.

The advisory is in effect from 3 p.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Saturday. The weather service said the strongest winds should be later in the afternoon through the evening.

There could be sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, according to the advisory.

The weather service said the advisory means you should take appropriate precautions and that such strong winds can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

And Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. (BGE) officials said the utility company is watching the weather and is prepared to respond to any power outages. The high winds can knock down trees or limbs and rip down power lines, causing the outages, officials said in a release.

BGE has additional work crews on duty to respond to any problems, according to the release.

“For safety reasons, however, work involving bucket trucks could be delayed until the high wind dies down, which may extend restoration times," Jeannette M. Mills, senior vice president and chief customer officer for BGE said in a release. "In addition, restoration work involving the removal of trees and tree debris can be labor and time intensive. We thank our customers in advance for their patience and understanding.”

To be safe in case of a potential outage, BGE suggested residents keep the following items handy:

• Flashlights—not candles
• Fresh batteries
• Battery-operated clock radio
• Corded telephone
• Fully charged cell phone
• Nonperishable foods
• Blankets

Other tips include filling your vehicle in the event a power outage affects service to neighborhood gas stations and if you have well water, fill a bathtub with water in advance.

Customers are always reminded to stay away from downed power lines and to report them immediately by calling 800-685-0123.

And you should always report any outages by calling BGE’s automated system at 877-778-2222.