Crisfield Volunteers Look Ahead After FEMA Denial - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

CRISFIELD, Md. - The fight for federal aid in Somerset County is far from over. 

As Maryland leaders try to convince those in Washington that the need is real, one volunteer group isn't just standing around and waiting for the funding to be approved.

"The volunteer organization is probably going to be the leadership that actually gets all of this accomplished," said Mayor Percy Purnell.    

Six weeks since Sandy, abandoned Crisfield houses stand empty.    

Some residents, who went back to their homes are living with mold.    

Cue a group of volunteers who have been in town since Day 1.  Even after FEMA denied individual assistance, the work continues.         

"While the government is sitting around figuring out what to do, we've got five people back in their homes," said John Phoebus, a volunteer.    

Every weekend, volunteers tear up floorboards and gut homes.  Even though FEMA left them high and dry after the flooding, they are not discouraged.

"Somerset County is doing anything but surrendering on this." said Phoebus. "We're a resilient community.  We're a group of hard-working individuals.  We're neighbors that care about other neighbors."

"It's going to be a long, hard winter, but we're going to get through it," said Mayor Purnell.

Organizers said they will be working through the holidays to get additional homes finished up by the New Year, but add that more work still needs to be done.   

If you need help with repairs, the group has a trailer in the Somers Cove Marina parking lot or you can visit www.crisfieldrecovery.org and tell them what you need done.