With more than 1300 runners signed up for the city of Havre de Grace's inaugural Susquehanna River Run Festival on Saturday, the storm threatened to shut the races down before they ever started, and one of the race organizers, Donna Lewis, was nervous.
"We have people coming from all over---California... Florida,” said Lewis, “There are 15 or more states represented, and we had... yes... white knuckles. Even I had white knuckles because we were planning this a year and a half out."
But as Florence shifted to the south and weakened, Director of Administration Patrick Sypolt says emergency managers are no longer worried about high winds, flooding and power outages at least for now.
"We are seeing some abnormally high, high tides, but all-in-all we're in pretty good shape,” said Sypolt, “Now the way the storm looks like it's tracking, we may see something come it Monday into Tuesday. Once it goes through the mountains and comes over, I'd be more concerned of what's going to hit the water shed in the Pennsylvania area cause eventually everything that goes north of us tends to flow south."
The threats of flooding are on hold for now, allowing the city to continue its big plans for the weekend, not the least of which is the premier of the Susquehanna River Runs, which will provide scholarships for a pair of athletes from each of Harford County's 11 high schools.
"We are thankful to God for the weather,” said Lewis, “It's going to be a beautiful day. The course is simply gorgeous."
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For those interested in participating in the races on Saturday, we're told they will start up at eight o'clock.
Late entries will be accepted beginning at six o'clock.
They welcome anyone who wants to take part in the festivities.
