Inclement Weather Policy

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce's inclement weather policy regarding cancellations of meetings and events will be made on a case by case basis. Changes to the event operational status will be posted here.

Regarding cancellations of MCCC events, we follow the operational status of Montgomery County Public Schools:
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• If Montgomery County Public Schools are closed, all MCCC meetings and events will be cancelled.
• If Montgomery County Public Schools open two hours late, all morning MCCC morning meetings and events will be cancelled.
• If Montgomery County Public Schools cancels evening activities due to inclement weather, MCCC evening events are cancelled. 

Note: The Chamber office may also close if other emergencies arise that force the closure of the office. If you have RSVP'd to an MCCC event, MCCC will notify you directly via email regarding any changes or cancellations.

Emergency Safety Tips

• Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.
• If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there during a prolonged outage.
• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.  If you have a pet, make sure there is a supply of food available for them.  Be sure to take you pet with you if you have to leave home.  Identify pet-friendly motels ahead of time.
• Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.
• Protect your electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for temporary battery backup power.
• Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. However, if you have an electrically operated sump pump, you should not turn off your power.
• Fill your gas tank so you can run your automobile to charge mobile devices. Be sure to open garage doors using manual controls to run the vehicle safely.

​Generator Safety Tips

If you plan to use a portable generator during power outages, here are important safety precautions:

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using a generator.
• Locate your generator in a well-ventilated area. Never run it inside, even in your garage. Gasoline powered generators produce carbon monoxide and the fumes can be deadly. Store gasoline or other flammable liquids outside of living areas in properly marked approved containers. They should also not be stored in a garage if a fuel-burning appliance is located there.
• Plug appliances directly into the generator using heavy-duty, properly grounded extension cords. Make sure extension cords are not frayed or worn.
• Use the generator only when necessary, and don’t overload it. Turn it off at night while you sleep and when you are away from home to avoid a possible fire hazard.
• For your safety and the safety of employees working to restore power, do not connect your generator directly into your home’s main fuse box or circuit panel. Improperly connected generators can feed electricity back into the electrical system, endangering field personnel working to restore your power. Consult a qualified electrical contractor if a permanent generator installation is desired.

Other Safety Tips

• Tune in to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.
• Follow the advice of your local emergency management officials.
• Take cover if necessary.
• Stay from downed wires. Assume any downed wire is energized.

​Pepco Outages and Emergencies

To report outages (24 hours):
1-877-PEPCO-62
(1-877-737-2662)
 
To report downed wires and life-threatening emergencies (24 hours):
1-877-Pepco-62
(1-877-737-2662) 
and press two
TTY: 202-872-2369