ELDERSBURG, Md. (AP) - For the first time ever, a statewide drought emergency has been declared in Maryland, yet another sign that the dry spell that has plagued the East coast is continuing to take a major toll. "We expect this drought to get worse before we see serious " Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening said Thursday at Liberty Reservoir, which is 24 feet below its average level. It is one of three reservoirs that provides water for 1.8 million people in the Baltimore area. The other two also are well below average levels. Glendening asked residents to voluntarily conserve water by taking short showers, not watering lawns and not filling swimming pools. Mandatory conservation measures could be imposed next week.