Michelle Basch, wtop.com

OCEAN CITY, Md. – As powerful Hurricane Irene spun toward Maryland in August, evacuations were ordered in Ocean City.

Well in advance of the storm, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan declared a local state of emergency, businesses were told to close, and all except emergency crews were ordered to leave.

But some people think things should have been done differently.

Ocean City’s Hotel-Motel Restaurant Association has sent a letter to city council, outlining concerns it has about the town’s storm response.

The letter questions whether Ocean City was evacuated too soon. It points out that Virginia Beach, which is located further south, was evacuated 24 hours after Ocean City.

The letter also says the foreign students many businesses depend on to staff their businesses were evacuated to shelters and returned too late to help on the day the town reopened.

The letter also claims some police officers spread bad information by telling people the town’s electricity would be turned off.

Ocean City Today reports City Council will hold a hearing Tuesday to address the concerns.

The Maryland Comptroller’s office estimated the closure of Ocean City for the storm cost the state more than $2 million in direct revenue.

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