BALTIMORE - More than 600 evacuees from Ocean City, Md. were housed in the Maryland National Guard's Fifth Regiment Armory here today.
The evacuees are mostly young adults on work and student visas.
The students were evacuated as part of the governor's declared state of emergency in anticipation of extreme weather conditions brought on by Hurricane Irene threatening the East Coast. Breakfast was provided by the Salvation Army for the evacuees.
"The Maryland National Guard is ready and trains with emergency responders from across the state on a variety of missions in preparation for any disaster," said Brig. Gen. Annette Deener, director of the joint staff. "We anticipate this to be the first of many requests for assistance in response to the storm."