Maryland: Two Cities Under Siege

Hagerstown and Cumberland, Maryland

Hagerstown, like so much of the northeast and midwest, faced a double-whammy with deep snows and flooding. The town received a whopping 41" of snow, and AFSCME members were called upon to make the roads passable. Road crews, like the one including Local 1540 Pres. David Scriever, were sent out from the Public Works Dept. to plow and sand. Scriever said, "For 15 days, we were at it....It was arduous, but it was well worth it knowing that the work you do will help maintain safety for the people in your community."

A few days later, warmer temperatures and heavy rains brought flooding so extreme that the water treatment plant had to be shut down. For 18 hours, 70,000 residents were without drinking water while public employees like Plant Operator I Steve Shadrach dried out the plant's motors, and went through other procedures necessary to get the plant up and running again.

Meanwhile, some 90 miles to the west, water from the overflowing Chesapeake and Ohio Canal had uprooted homes and vehicles, killed animals, and was now headed toward the city of Cumberland. Though some evacuations had taken place, there were still many people trapped by the rising water. Only the quick and decisive action of AFSCME city and county workers (Locals 533, 1633, and 1521) saved Cumberland and its citizens.

Members of the city's flood control team started the pumps, and maintained them for over 30 hours, while other workers tended to the gates along the city's retainer wall. "These workers are to be commended on the superior job they did," said Local 533 Pres. Mike Pyles. "They put the public safety first before their own concerns....They stayed until they got word that the crisis was over." Had the Wills Creek overflowed, he pointed out, the city—and its 70,000 residents—would have been devastated. But flood control team members like Greg Shadwell, Jack Powell, George White, and Jim Footen kept the water back.

Footen described the experience: "It was very eerie on the bridges that were vibrating because of the force of the water....The waters made a roaring sound like a fast-moving train. We had never seen anything like what we were dealing with....After it was over, I had flashbacks for several hours of the water and of the people who needed help."

Maryland's Council 67 Exec. Director Glenard Middleton praised the work done by AFSCME members. "Our members did one heck of a job. They are all to be congratulated." Middleton visited both localities at the height of the flooding, and was accompanied by Council 67 Administrator C.J. Ross.