By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE – Dorchester County and other low-lying areas of the state experienced some of the worst flooding in 20 years from Thursday night into Saturday. A combination of heavy rain and southerly winds created high tides as much as five feet above normal.

Low-lying areas reported tides Friday that hardly receded, leaving spots soaked and vulnerable to the next high-water events late Friday and on Saturday.

“Lots of water reported in homes in South Dorchester,” the Taylors Island Maryland social media site announced. Taylors Island itself saw homes and businesses cut off by the tides.

Roads throughout the swampy region were washed out, restricting travel for residents and emergency responders.

On Friday, Governor Hogan declared a state of emergency in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Prince George's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties, as well as Baltimore City.

Officials canceled Friday classes in Dorchester County Public Schools.

The announcement, which came out around 5 p.m., compared the forecast to 2003's Hurricane Isabel, which inundated much of the county, and damaged or ruined more than 600 homes.

Superintendent W. David Bromwell's statement said in part, “Due to the warning issued by the National Weather Service this afternoon (Thursday 10/28) and through communication with Dorchester County Emergency Management, it has been determined that a severe weather event similar to Hurricane Isabel (2003) is highly probable beginning this evening. Significant flooding in low lying areas of Dorchester County is expected to last for multiple days.

“Cambridge-South Dorchester High School will be operating as the Dorchester County emergency shelter beginning at 6 p.m. (Thursday) through the duration of the weather event."

In response to the flooding, the Dorchester County Department of Emergency Services released the following statement:

If your property experienced damages from flooding or high winds, please call and report it to us at 410-228-2222. We will need your name, address, phone number, and what damage was caused.

We understand this is a very sensitive time for those impacted. Part of the recovery and impact assessment requires us to collect a list of impacted residents and share that list with the State of Maryland and allied agencies who assist.