How to help Smith Island in hurricane recovery
Smith Island was hit by an EF1 tornado on August 4, 2022.
A bed and breakfast in the Rhodes Point community lost its roof and third floor and a mobile home was destroyed. And as the tornado made its way through the community of Ewell, it damaged 17 homes.
Doris Lee Bradshaw, 88, was hospitalized after being found in the rubble of her destroyed home.
Her son, Lindsay Bradshaw, told The Baltimore Sun of her relief Friday after being taken to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, a hospital in Salisbury.
Storms:Doris Lee Bradshaw talks about life on Smith Island in a 2016 interview
“It’s bad; it’s really bad. It looks terrible,” said Lindsey Bradshaw, overlooking the ruins of what was once her mother’s home. “But we could have planned the funeral today.”
No loss of life occurred.
The archipelago is about 10 miles off the Delmarva Peninsula in the Chesapeake Bay. It is uniquely isolated as it is only accessible by boat or helicopter. No bridges, no airport.
Its isolation makes it more difficult to get aid and supplies to the island, which was first charted by Captain John Smith in 1608.
Related:‘Damage is devastating’: Tornado hits Smith Island, damages more than a dozen homes
More:Scenes from the Smith Islanders during the hurricane
On Friday, Robert Joseph Jones of the Ewell Volunteer Fire Company posted on Facebook: “Our fuel dock is out of commission and we are currently unable to get fuel.”
The Facebook page Smith Island United noted Saturday, “Major cleanups are on hold for insurance adjusters to get here. We have plenty of water and food.”
With power outages from the storm, A&N Electric Co-op restored power to many with generators running the first night.
A&E posted to Facebook that about 60 residences on the island continue to experience power outages as a result of Saturday’s storm damage. That member’s authority is expected to be restored by noon.
“Some of the power line damage is in the swamp, making it more difficult for our guys to access it to make repairs,” said Joe Cataldo, A&N Electric Cooperative vice president of construction and operations. “We are taking the opportunity to move those lines closer to the nearest road while working to restore power, which will make them easier to access and help with any future outage restorations.”
How to help Smith Island
Maryland Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (Maryland VOAD) is the umbrella organization that helped Somerset County’s long-term recovery committee rebuild Crisfield after Hurricane Sandy. 100% of donations designated for Smith Island will be used for reconstruction. Put “Smith Island” in the memo line of your donation. https://www.marylandvoad.org/donate/
Jay Fleming, a photographer known for his images of the Chesapeake Bay, started a GoFundMe page to raise money for recovery efforts.
Monetary donations can be sent to Smith Island United, which will set up an account for disaster relief. Smith Island United/Disaster Relief, PO Box 40, Ewell, Md. 21824.
If you would like to add your organization, email [email protected]
