A fast-moving rainstorm that shook the Baltimore region and northeastern Maryland with high winds Wednesday morning caused thousands of power outages in Harford County and downed numerous trees.
Harford saw wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, emergency officials said, and some residents reported trees falling on homes and cars. The storm was of relatively short duration and no flooding incidents were reported locally.
In neighboring Cecil County, extensive damage was reported to the Plumpton Park Zoo, which posted on its Facebook Page: "The zoo was just hit by a severe thunderstorm. Calling for any volunteers to help. Major damage to tiger, Watusi, llama and horse enclosures. Thanks to our great staff, all animals are secure. We have closed the zoo for safety. Looking for volunteers immediately for clean up, repairs."
In a follow-up post around 3:30 p.m., the zoo reported that some 75 volunteers had shown up to help with repairs and cleanup.
More than 10,000 Harford County BGE customers, including in central Bel Air, Edgewood, Abingdon land Aberdeen, lost power as a result of the storm, which passed through the area 11 a.m., BGE spokesperson Justin Mulcahy said.
About 9,669 of the outages had been restored shortly before 5 p.m., and about 725 outages were left by the end of the business day, he said. BGE's outage map showed customers without power in Perryman, Churchville and Darlington.
Delmarva Power, which serves northeastern Harford and all of Cecil County, was reporting less than 400 outages in each county as of 6:30 p.m.
At least 10 Harford County roads were closed at some point, mostly in the northern and eastern areas, including around Havre de Grace and Aberdeen, county government spokesperson Cindy Mumby said. All had been reopened by later afternoon.
A distress call was reported from a boat near the Conowingo Dam boat launch about 11:30 a.m., but Mumby said the call was handled by Cecil County. No further details were available.
The only property damage reported to the Harford 911 Center was a vehicle hit by a falling tree on Kenmore Avenue in Bel Air, Mumby said. Wires were reported on fire in Level.
Harford, along with Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County, was among the areas hardest hit by the storm, BGE's Mulcahy said.
"We quickly made a decision to mobilize and right now we have an all-hands-on-deck approach," he said.
Following the storm, bright sunny skies returned over Harford, with cooler temperatures and a steady breeze blowing in downtown Bel Air the early evening hours.