On Tuesday July 12, 2022 at approximately 1600 hours, Upperco was struck with a severe weather cell. Many residents experienced storm damage worse than anything they had ever experienced before. Between 16:00 and 23:54 Our members responded to over 17 Storm related calls.
On Wednesday July 13, 2022, After assessing the damages of the community and surrounding areas, the leadership of UVFC gathered members to open our activities building as a disaster relief center. UVFC’s current station and activities building have generators allowing us to fully function in the event of an emergency such as this. Residents were able to come take hot showers, fill containers with water for flushing, cool off in the A/C, Charge devices and get a meal and drinking water. Members began cleaning up our grounds from fallen limbs and fixing our pump house that was damaged during the storm. Riding members responded to an additional 3 storm related emergencies.
Our disaster relief efforts continued into Thursday July 14, 2022.. Offering help to community members with small limb clean up and manning our activities building for more than 12 hours to allow residents a place to come get the necessary items they needed. Weis Markets and JJ Hoffman donated items for our dinner meal. We were joined by MyBGE representatives to answer questions anyone may have had about power outages, and food safety during a power outage.
On Friday July 15, 2022 Our doors were open during the morning and evening hours for residents and anyone in the surrounding areas still without power and water due to being a rural community without public water. Chief Michael Dennis and President Ashley Hale were contacted by Baltimore County Emergency Management who were able to assist in opening 1 lane of Arcadia Avenue to provide faster access to more than 50% of our residents. Baltimore County Battalion Chief Eddie Schwartz Jr met with Chief Dennis and determined that it was necessary to complete a box area search to make sure that we were able to access our residents and provided items to any who were unable to leave their homes. Members took water to Lucky Stars Kennel in Hampstead as well. We were also joined by members of the Red Cross who brought out drinking water and assisted our leaders in our relief efforts.
By Saturday July 16, 2022 Upperco still had roads that were closed or 1 lane roads with obstructions. With help from community donations we once again opened our activity building doors to our residents and surrounding areas by 8am. Members helped distribute box lunches provided by the Red Cross and FireHouse Subs to all who came to the center as well as delivering them to those who were still not able to get out of their homes, Baltimore County road crews and Electrical workers from several states.
UVFC would like to thank all who helped with our disaster relief efforts. Your Support does not go unnoticed and we greatly appreciate all who helped us to be a place for everyone to come get the necessities they needed.

Together we are one, and together we are Upperco.