On Thursday, Maryland declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Irene.  While the path of the storm remains uncertain, Maryland residents are urged to prepare for possible high winds and flooding.  The Maryland Emergency Management Agency has information available on their website on  developing  hurricane preparedness plans.   Another valuable resource is the “Get A Game Plan” app that was developed by the state of Louisiana, a state that has weathered through numerous tropical storms and hurricanes, on how basic hurricane precautions and plans.