Bowie Storm Updates: 11,500 Still Without Power, Yard Waste Rules Relaxed

The Bowie City Council meeting for Monday night has been canceled.

Here are some other updates from Alert Bowie:

Phones
Outside callers were not able to reach the main number or any direct extensions at city hall all weekend. This was resolved around 8 a.m. Monday morning, although there are sporadic problems still with local cell phone service.

Trash & Recycling Pickup
Pickup will take place as scheduled this week, except for the July Fourth holiday.

Power Outages
At the height of the outage problems there were about 18,000 in Bowie, which was 85 percent of the residences in the city. Power has been restored to the three Bowie substations and BGE will be working to assess damage and work on repairs in neighborhoods. As of 8 a.m. Monday, the number of outages was down to about 11,500.

Yard Waste Rules Relaxed
The rules for yard waste are relaxed for this week. Residents should bring tree debris to the curb for pickup. If at all possible, limbs should be cut down to manageable size and bundled or put in a trash can (50 pound limit). This will speed up the process, save tax dollars, and make it easier for busy crews. Pickup may occur at any time during the next two to three weeks.

For more updates on power outages and storm cleanup, follow Bowie Patch on Twitter and Facebook.

Cooling Centers
The (24-hour) and the (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) served as cooling centers this weekend and will continue to do so. These facilities may also be used to charge medical equipment and electronic devices. Residents who are staying the night at the cooling center should bring food and bedding. A very limited number of cots are on hand. in Bowie is also open as a cooling station today until 5 p.m.

Status of City Facilities
All city facilities are open on a regular schedule.

Fourth of July
will go on as planned on July 4, weather permitting and provided that electricity remains on at . The concert by the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note will begin at 8 p.m. and fireworks will start around 9:15 p.m.

Residents can sign up for Alert Bowie here.