Residents near the structurally unsound Empire Towers on Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie are being asked to respect a 150-foot perimeter around the building, county officials said.
The safety perimeter, which is a distance equal to one and a half times the 10-story building’s height, was established Friday evening, according to a news release from Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman.
About 100 people were evacuated from the building Thursday afternoon after first responders discovered that the parking garage beneath the office building “had been compromised.”
Some roads near the building were closed Saturday because of the safety perimeter, according to the release. Drivers on Crain Highway and southbound Ritchie Highway will have to take a detour through 8th Avenue and Route 648. Southbound lanes on Route 2 will also be partially closed, so some slowdowns are expected this weekend.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department deemed the building as not structurally sound on Friday. No one can enter the building under those conditions, officials said.
The building is home to several businesses, including the American Red Cross blood donation center.
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Banner reporters Matti Gellman and Cody Boteler contributed to this article.
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